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Are Your Employees the Best You Could Get?

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business-man-2452808_640Do you ever take a moment to look around your office at the hired help?

If things worked out the way you wanted them to, then there’s a good likelihood that you are happy with your team. In the event you are not, where do you think things may have gone wrong?

Hiring the right talent for your office isn’t always as easy as some may make it out to be.

For starters, what you see from someone in an interview and what they do once hired can be two different things. That said you oftentimes end up having to go with your gut when it comes to bringing someone on-board.

With that in mind, do you feel as if your employees are the best you could get?

Hiring and Managing Top-Notch Employees

To best improve your odds of getting the right talent time and time again, remember a few pointers:

  1. Resumes do matter

Be honest; do you pay attention to all the resumes coming across your desk?

Sure, you may not even be in on the hiring process until the very end or in some cases at all. At times, you may delegate that authority to the H.R. department or even a manager or two.

That said someone needs to go over those resumes with a fine tooth comb. To do otherwise would be negligence on the part of the company.

Did you proceed with background checks when you hired these people now employees? If not, you could be setting yourself and your company up for trouble.

By combing over resumes and background checks, you are more likely to get the right people on board.

  1. Tasks outside the office

As part of the checks of those you consider hiring, work activities outside the office matter.

What if you need to hire someone for deliveries or meeting with clients? Something as simple as their driving skills becomes a much bigger deal.

Like the background check one hopes you did on them, this is why in fact a license plate search matters.

Stop for a moment and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Would you consider hiring someone with a reckless driving record?
  • Would you consider hiring someone who has one or more DUI’s to their name?
  • Would you consider hiring someone with a vehicle that is unsafe to be on the roads?

When workers go on deliveries, networking, and to meet with clients, they represent you. As such, you want to make sure they’re responsible and have solid driving records.

  1. Character references

Although some potential hires will put down best friends or relatives to vouch for them, be smart.

The people you really want to talk to would be former or current co-workers and even a boss if at all possible. These types of individuals know how someone is to work with. Best of all, they more times than not will give you an honest opinion.

If you’ve not be one to ask for references in the past, change that moving forward.

To improve the odds of getting the best employees, character references can go a long way in that process.

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

 

 

 

 

4 Keys to a Better Employment Search

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application-1915345_640Having trouble locating the job you want? If the answer is yes, you are not alone.

For millions, the thought of finding the ideal employment opportunity can be frustrating.

As an example, if desperate to pay your bills, you are more than likely going to take the first position out there. In doing so, you may find yourself stuck in a job that is both stressful and frustrating. You could also end up in a situation where boredom sets in. As that happens, you could find it impacting your job performance.

If your employment search is coming up empty, what options are on the table moving forward?

Know Where the Work is

For starters, your job search may be teetering on the edge because you’re looking in all the wrong places.

For instance, are you following the right employment and job market info in your search? If not, you are less likely to locate the ideal job situation.

Keep in mind there are countless online and offline services out there to educate you on where the jobs are. With that information in-hand, you are in a better position to nab the job you want.

With that in mind, take these four keys to heart:

  1. Attitude

First, a positive attitude is a necessity when search for new employment.

If you go into the process with a lackluster attitude, the results tend not to go your way. Be sure to stay positive throughout the experience. Yes, there are going to oftentimes be some down points, but keep your ultimate goal in mind.

You also want to show off that positive attitude when going on interviews (see more below). If a prospective employer sees you are not all that interested in the position, it more times than not will show.

  1. Personality

Everyone has their share of bad days from time to time.

With that in mind, it is crucial that your real personality shines through when you interview for a job. Go into each interview with excitement and a desire to show the interviewer that you want to work for them.

Unfortunately, too many people show up at interviews with less than stellar actions. From little interest to having not researched the company (see more below), they fall flat.

Always remember that you should never burn bridges on an interview.

Even if you do not get the position, thank your interviewer for taking time out of their schedule to meet with you.

You might very well discover that a future position with the company can come your way. This is because of a solid interview you had the first time around, yet did not get the position.

  1. Research

While you are not taking a quiz in high school, a job interview is a test or sorts. As a result, you need to have done your homework on the company and what it does.

As an example, how silly would you look if you went into an interview and did not understand the following?

  • What the company does
  • What are the duties of the person they will hire for the job opening?
  • How long the company has been around

Always be sure to read up on any company you’re going to interview with.

By being knowledgeable about the company and the opening, you improve your odds.

  1. Determination

There is a good chance you’re not always going to get the job you want the first time around. With that in mind, will you stay determined to keep shooting for your goal?

With countless job seekers, you have to remember that there are only so many positions one can fill. With that being the case, you’re not guaranteed anything.

For instance, what if you want a job with a certain company and you interview, yet they hire someone else? Do you write that business off moving forward?

Remember, there is always the chance the person they hired won’t work out or will go elsewhere sooner than later. By staying engaged with that company, you could end up working there.

Ways to go about this include:

  • Following their job boards
  • Dropping the H.R. person an occasional email to see if they still have your resume on file
  • Improving your work skills so you are an even better option the next time around when they have an opening

The employment search can be a challenge.

That said are you up to the task?

Photo credit: Pixabay

About the Author: Dave Thomas writes about business topics on the web.

Is Healthcare a Healthy Career Choice?

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ahealtherrAre you looking for a fulfilling career that will help you to grow both personally and professionally?

Then healthcare could be just the career choice for you. The healthcare field is always growing and diversifying, offering ample opportunities for those who want to move into the field, and making it a choice worth considering if you’re looking to change career or start something new.

What are some of the reasons healthcare is a great career choice going into 2015? And what skills do you need to succeed in healthcare?

Healthcare Is a Growing Field

As the article “6 Growing Health Care Careers” points out, healthcare is a growing industry and a great choice if you’re looking for a career where you are almost guaranteed to be in demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare practitioner jobs are expected to grow by 21.5 percent, and support occupations by 28.1 percent, by 2022. That’s twice as fast as the average for any other occupation.

Healthcare Offers Many Benefits

As well as being in demand, a career in healthcare offers numerous other benefits:

  • Good pay and benefits – Healthcare careers typically come with an attractive salary, often featuring on lists of well-paying jobs, and usually offer great benefits such as dental, medical, insurance and paid vacation time to boot;
  • Variety – If there’s one thing that can be said for certain about healthcare, it’s that there’s never a dull moment. As well as offering exciting work, you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of working environments;
  • Career choices – Healthcare careers offer plenty of opportunities for moving upwards and growing your career and your salary. The number of distinct careers in the healthcare field is staggering, from doctors and nurses to transcriptionists, pharmacists, radiologists, medical billers and much more;
  • Free education – Many healthcare employers offer continuing professional development and even on the job training for new members of the field, meaning you can continue to learn, grow and expand your skills;
  • Fulfilling – A career in healthcare means meeting with and helping people from all walks of life. If you’re a people person who enjoys contributing something positive to others, healthcare is a good career choice for you.

Skills That Will Help You Succeed In Healthcare

Even before you start filling out your admissions form, you might find you have plenty of transferable skills that will help you build a good healthcare career, be it in family medicine or another area of medical practice.

Here are some skills that are an asset for anyone working in healthcare:

  • Time management – Many healthcare careers are fast paced – good time management will help you excel;
  • Customer service – You’ll be dealing with the public a lot, so the ability to make the people you meet feel valued and looked after is invaluable;
  • Compassion – From colleagues working under pressure to nervous patients or worried relatives, the ability to show compassion and empathy will make you an excellent healthcare practitioner;
  • Good communication – You’ll be working with people from all walks of life and communicating at all levels, so good communication skills will be a great strength;
  • Calmness under pressure – If you can stay calm and help others feel supported when things get busy or stressful, you’ll be appreciated by colleagues and patients alike.

If you’re ready for a career that is exciting, fulfilling and full of interesting opportunities, healthcare could just be a healthy choice for you.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn writes on a wide variety of topics, including social media, SEO, healthcare careers and distance learning.

Benefits or Salary When Thinking About Leaving a Job?

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asalaryIf you’re considering quitting your job, it’s important to not only factor in the salary that you will be losing but also the benefits package.

Health insurance can be costly, and with unpaid medical bills being the leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., it’s not something you can afford to skip out on.

Before quitting your job, take a close look at what types of benefits you’re receiving, especially if you have a family, and make a decision from there.

Questions to ask about your current job

It’s not just a matter or whether or not your job provides health insurance, but a matter of how good it is.

Are your family members covered at an affordable cost? What type of plan are you covered under? What is your monthly payment compared to your deductible? In addition to health care coverage, do you receive dental and vision insurance?

And let’s not forget about sick time and vacation time.

Some companies offer a very competitive paid time-off plan, including holidays, sick time and plenty of vacation time. Is this something you’re willing to give up in addition to your salary and health insurance benefits?

Is Money Everything?

Most people are focused on their salaries. But, the reality is you can find a way to live off of a wide range of salaries.

If you do end up in a catastrophic situation without a good benefits plan in place, you will most likely go bankrupt even if you were making a decent living. Medical bills crush many Americans year after year because they’re not properly insured.

According to the article saving on family health insurance, it’s very rare that companies provide full benefits to employees and their dependents.

If you work for one of these one-of-a-kind companies, you’ll definitely want to think twice about quitting.

On the same token, some employers only offer plans to their employees and not to any additional family members. If this is the case, you’ll have to get your family members on a private health insurance plan of their own.

Is Work Benefiting You?

Though you do have to consider a wide array of things when looking for a job, including salary, benefits, paid time-off, expected weekly hours, travel and job duties, it’s safe to say that benefits should rank towards the top of your considerations.

Employers can pay anywhere from a few thousand dollars per year for an individual plan up to $15,000 per year for a family plan.

If you factor that into your yearly salary, you’re most likely getting paid a decent amount more than you thought. If your employer is also contributing to a 401(k) plan for you, that should be factored in, as well.

Quitting a job is a tough decision.

Many factors need to be thought about in-depth before a decision can be made.

Don’t think lightly about benefits, though, as good packages from employers can be extremely hard to come by.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About the Author: Sarah Brooks is a freelance writer living in Charlotte, NC. New to the city, she enjoys spending time outdoors and exploring the area. She writes on a variety of topics including health insurance, small businesses and personal finance.

Did You Make it Your Business to Get the Right Degree?

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agraddWhether you are planning to go into business for yourself now or maybe down the road, the right business degree can make all the difference in terms of success or failure.

In a day and age when the economies of a number of countries are on shaky ground, having a solid business degree behind you enhances the chances of getting a good job, perhaps one day being your own boss.

The biggest challenge for some is deciding just where to go for that degree. Should they look for a quick two-year degree at a community or junior college, should they go to a four-year school or should they opt for a college or university specifically geared towards the business world?

Once that decision is made, the key then becomes focusing in on a generic or specialized business degree.

Educating Yourself on the Business World

In order to put yourself in position to get the business degree, consider the following factors:

  • How much education is enough? – Many up-and-coming business entrepreneurs have to deal with the issue of rising education costs. As a result, they may be hesitant to put the time and money into getting a business degree. Money saved now might actually be money missed out on down the road. Having a business degree can open many more doors for you than if you just have a high school diploma and a few college courses under your belt.
  • Multiple uses for a business degree – While some obtained degrees limit the individual in their job search, a business degree is quite universal. From running your own business to getting a job in marketing and/or advertising to working for a retailer, a business degree can be very valuable when properly used. Having a business degree under your belt will more than likely catch the eye of prospective employers. Remember, the time and costs invested now in getting a degree from a business school can pay off in great dividends in your future;
  • Being connected – Studying and graduating with other business professionals can open up a number of doors for prospective business owners. While you may not be the one to immediately open up your own business upon graduation, others you went to school with may do just that. In turn, they may need help or even fellow investors to get the business off the ground. Given the fact many individuals strive for business degrees in today’s education world, this is yet another reason having that business degree can benefit you;
  • More options – As the Internet has evolved, so too has the world of education. In the event you feel like physically going to school is too much for you at this time, you have the option in many cases to get an online business degree. The benefit here is that you can earn your degree on your own time schedule, meaning you don’t have to spend the necessary hours commuting to and from school. An important factor no matter whether you attend school in person or online is making sure the program you choose is accredited.

With many economies still up in the air at the present time, reinforce your business profile by getting the right business degree sooner rather than later.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of hywards at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About the Author: Dave Thomas writes for a variety of websites on topics such as marketing and running a business.

Are You Dialed-in to Telecommuting?

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Communications technology is making the notion of working from home or other remote locations commonplace in today’s business world.

If your business and its employees are missing out on the convenience of telecommuting, then it’s time to give the “work from anywhere” approach a shot.

To give you a better idea of how the telecommunications atmosphere works, here are just a few advantages of going the telecommuting route with your business:

Keeping up with the Trend

Businesses all across the country are adopting a telecommuting mindset and the trend is continuing to grow.

In fact, according to the Telework Research Network, nearly 30 million Americans from all walks of life telecommute on a regular basis.

In addition, the number of telecommuters in the U.S. is expected to increase by more than 50% in the five years.

If your business is looking for a convenient, effective work alternative to the 9 to 5, then telecommuting has a number of built-in benefits for both your company and its employees.

Cost Effectiveness

Sure, telecommuting saves your employees’ money in terms of lunches, office attire, and daily commuting costs, but it also saves your business money.

Not only are telecommunication systems affordable, but telecommuting employees also reduces your business’s overhead costs.

Telecommuting employees free up more space in your office, which means you’ll save money on leased square footage.

As the following article shows, in terms of “How business phone systems can make telecommuting work”, your business can also route calls directly to your employees’ home offices. This means each telecommuter will save you money on office energy costs and your clients won’t even know they’re dealing with someone outside of the office.

Improved Productivity

Ask anyone who works 9 to 5 and they’ll likely tell you the same: schedule flexibility leads to improved productivity.

Although it may not seem like it, working from the office comes with plenty of distractions, such as disruptive employees or an environment that’s not always conducive to continuous work.

But, telecommuting provides your employees the quiet comfort of working from their own home, which oftentimes improves productivity.

With the right home environment, telecommuters can work continuously and without interruption, which means tasks, projects, and daily assignments will be completed much faster.

Increased Availability

The schedule flexibility and improved productivity that telecommuting provides leads to an increase in availability.

Telecommuting employees are able to get work done faster and more efficiently, which means they’ll have the opportunity to increase their workload. Likewise, by working from home, your employees will have the opportunity to take on assignments at any time without any 9 to 5 constraints.

Setting up the Ground Rules

As with implementing any new protocol into your business, you will need to set up some telecommuting ground rules for your employees. These might include requiring your employees to have an adequate, dependable workspace in their home.

Additionally, you may have to require your telecommuting employees to check in with you or their supervisor at least once a day. This will cover any accountability issues that may arise with employees who might take advantage of their newfound freedom.

When it comes to workplace efficiency, it’s plain to see that telecommuting can improve your business and the lives of your employees.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Ambro at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About the Author: Adam Groff is a freelance writer and creator of content. He writes on a variety of topics including employee health and workplace productivity.