Building a Personal Brand Series 1

Happy Thursday! To build off of our most recent article about building a brand following, today we’re here to introduce you to series 1 of some ongoing lessons about what it means to have an build a personal brand. Whether this is intended to do so as a professional endeavor, revenue stream, or personal hobby, understanding and cultivating a personal brand is a fantastic way to grow in the New Year! Keep reading to find out how to do so…

Your Personal Brand…

  • Interactions: The way you interact with your followers, company, or others is an essential component of your brand. Are you someone who hopes to offer value through promotional branding deals or advertising content? Do you hope to be regarded as a reliable employee or a wealth of knowledge? How do you enter a room or guide a presentation? Are you an active listener? All of these ideas factor into how others perceive who you are and what you bring to a friendship, relationship, or professional connection.
  • Reach: If you read the above and immediately envisioned an “influencer post” lined with brand deals, promotional tags, discount codes, etc., then focusing on reach the largest quantity of followers through likes, comments, shares, and other interactions is crucial to achieving the largest brand “reach.” If this avenue is integral to the career you hope to achieve, then it may be time to look into paid promotions and other paid content through Google ads or paid promotions on other social platforms like Facebook or Pinterest!
  • Values: Who you are and what you value as the building blocks of your brand. Is your career your first priority? Building a family? Finding a significant other? Starting new friendships? Moving somewhere new? Whatever is at the forefront of your mind will guide your personal brand, posts, conversations, relationships, and daily discussions. So, writing down a list of values and figuring out what is most important to you is a great place to start.
  • Demographics: Who relates to your content? What are their ages? Genders? Hobbies? Locations? Consumption habits? Identifying your followers through gauging these types of analytics will help you optimize the content you post to best deliver to their needs.

Missed our last blog? Learn how to grow your following here!

And if you’re looking for a job… Check out our open jobs list!

Growing Your Following in 2021!

Good morning everyone! We know that at this time, social media following and reach is an integral part of almost any business. So, if you’re looking to expand your business, build a personal brand, or extend your branch reach… this is the article for you! Keep reading to find out our best tips and tricks for growing our social media following on any platform…

Growing a Social Following

Know Your Audience

Above all, know your target market and brand audience! Depending on each platform (between Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.), your brand message will be able to easily reach different demographics and consumers with a variety of purchasing intent. Take Pinterest for example, would that work for our brand? Would a client or candidate likely seek a “Pin” in order to identify a new job opportunity? We’ll let you brainstorm about that question while we leave you with one last tip about this idea: before hopping onto any social channel, directly and effectively assess your audience, your product, and the intent you hope to achieve (whether purchasing a good, creating a relationship, offering a service, increasing follower conversation,…).

Consistency

In order to paint a reliable image and provide value to your consumers, always be consistent in branding. Not only do we mean in the message you send, the type of content you provide, but we also encourage you to post at similar frequencies each, day, week, or month. This way, you will start you create a relationship with your consumers where they will know what to expect, when, and on what form to best access your brand and its products or services. Consistently posting content (at least once or twice a week!) is the best way to optimize your reach and build a consistent following from the ground up.

Integrating Consumer in Brand Voice

Millennials and Gen Z and rapidly obtaining the largest portion of buying power from our US consumers, and as these individuals are more than not “digital natives”, they possess a different set of brand expectations as they seek products. In order to make this highly impactful population feel valued, it is crucial to loop them into your brand message and intent. Ask what your followers want to see! What they’re looking to purchase! How you can better deliver on their wants and needs! However you have the resources to discuss your brand with these consumers and offer them a voice and role in your company (from an external perspective), we encourage you to do so.

 

That’s all for now! Make sure to reach out with any subsequent questions from this article, we’d love to help!

And if you’re looking for a job… Check out our open jobs list!

New Year, New Me!

With the New Year springing upon us in just a few days, it’s time to start securing some resolutions, manifestations, and hopes for the future! If you don’t know where to begin, this article is a perfect starting point, so get to reading!

Ringing in the New Year…

  • Resolutions: Even though this concept may feel overworked or cliche, the idea of setting goals to better yourself and become the best version of you is an idea as old as time for a reason… it works! So, if 2020 was getting you down (and trust me, that’s the case for most of us), there’s no better time to get ahead of productivity, goals, and measures of accountability than right before the new year begins. Whether this be a metric for days you go to the gym or workout from your home, minutes you hope to spend meditating, a new diet you’re hoping to test (I recommend plant-based!), new friendships you’re seeking, or any other small life alteration, documenting these goals is a fantastic way to embark on an accountability journey.
  • Manifestations: This leads us into a theme that has carried throughout all of 2020, manifestation! So, what does this mean? Well, Google defines this concept as, “the action or fact of showing an abstract idea”… but we call this documentation and speaking your goals out loud for the universe to hear! There are several manifestation outlines that you can fill in online, or you can simply speak these thoughts out loud in a form not too far from meditation so as to verbally document your hopes for the future. It is “proven” (this, we are not 100% sure of), that putting these thoughts into the world will help you bring them to fruition, so why not give it a chance?
  • Hopes: Above all, we know that 2020 likely brought with it a sense of hopelessness or despair, but we encourage you to maintain a hopeful outlook for what 2021 can bring! With the vaccine news looking more promising by the day, it is likely that with 2021 a sense of normalcy could return to our daily lives. By putting positivity into the universe in terms of your hopes for the new year, setting measurable goals not only as a sense of accountability but to give yourself a metric of success, and looking ahead with hope, 2021 may pan out to be one of the best years yet!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Taking On Additional Work

As an entry-level employee, intern, or any employee in the office, you may find yourself overwhelmed with taking on the work of your superiors around the holiday season. If this sounds like you, or you’re feeling stressed, today we’re here to provide you with tips for how to chug through this time period and achieve the best work of your ability!

Taking on a High Work Load…

  • Make Lists! The best thing to do to stay on top of your assignments is to make lists and organize as much as possible. Whether this means on a daily or weekly basis, setting a to-do list with priorities and timelines will help you keep track of your obligations, the ones you’ve accumulated, and all of their respective due dates.
  • Time Block: We at Esquire Recruiting are huge fans of making time schedules with time blocks assigned to various activities, tasks, assignments, and of course breaks too! Doing so will help you stay on track with the priorities of the day, remind yourself to take a brain break and eat, exercise, or walk around and leave your desk, and keep the prioritized tasks at the front of your mind.
  • Communicate! Communicating the additional work that has dropped onto your plate to your teammates and any available management is a great way to be transparent about your work-life balance, stress levels, and mental health. When your support system at the office is aware of your situation, they will be much more readily equipped to offer a helping hand!
  • Set Expectations: Make sure to set work hours and completion obligations with your coworkers and management! If you already know that there is no feasible way to complete an assignment before it’s due, looping other teammates in to delegate tasks and split up the work is not only an opportunity to showcase teamwork skills but a means of staying on track. We also hope that you set a balanced expectation for yourself and make sure to set boundaries around screen time, your “online” status at the office, and brain breaks.
  • Ask for Help: Don’t be afraid to ask your team, your boss, or your other coworkers from differing departments for help! There is a reason that an office is made up of several teams of employees bringing a variety of skills and perspectives. You never know when a fresh set of eyes may be the key you need to perfect an assignment. Plus, the more criticism and feedback you obtain before the due date, the less you’ll hopefully encounter afterward.

Google! 

The last encouragement to use our best friend, a search engine! I vividly remember the first time I was given the advice to look around online for answers, as you would be surprised by the quantities of tutorials and information you can find on the web. So, engaging in a quick Google search before extending an assignment or question to the team may provide you more answers than you ever expected!

We all know the holiday season can feel like the busiest time of the year, but with these tips, you are set to achieve success and impress your boss!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

2020 Positive Energy

Happy Friday to all of you! We know that 2020 came with more than a few unforeseen obstacles and life transitions, so today we’re hoping to point out a few positive components that the year entailed or allowed us to engage with. If you’re in the market for some positivity or encouragement, this article is for you! Keep reading to find out some silver linings fostered by this rollercoaster year…

2020 Positive Pointers…

  • Building Connections Online: While most of our interactions and conversations have been overcome by screens and the virtual format, we are incredibly impressed by the way in which each of you, our candidates, and our employees have embraced this new form of communication. While different and a definite transition, this mode of change has allowed many professionals to increase their adaptability, coping mechanisms, and human connections. It is phenomenal to see the ways in which our U.S. workforce has come together under the idea of embracing technology to not only maintain but build connections amongst one another and our loved ones (a special thank you to Zoom!).
  • Saved Commute: That’s right! Remember the days of dragging your feet to the train or your vehicle just to sit for an hour before even stepping into the office? Working from home or remotely has allowed professionals of all industries the reprieve of extra sleep, relaxation, and the comfort of our own homes. So, although we may be getting a bit sick of our surroundings, they sure beat a daily commute that transforms a workday into a fourteen-hour journey.
  • Gratitude and Mindfulness: As we watch devastating and uncomfortable news unfold around us, it has never been more evident that practicing gratitude and mindfulness are essential components of strong mental health and fulfillment. We have been tasked with some of the greatest challenges of our lives, but reminded of the value of those we love, the comfort of our homes, our own health, and the hopeful health of those around us.
  • Let’s Stay Positive: Above all, staying positive has proven key to each of the course of our years! While it may feel easier to get knocked down by the struggles posed by the pandemic and economy, attempting to remain calm, and grateful for those aspects of life that still remain will allow you to push forward to the future.

We are so proud of the perseverance of our community and so grateful to our candidates and followers for allowing us to continue what we love to do most, recruit! And with that being said… Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

End of Year PTO!

Good morning everyone! We hope that this weekend brought relaxation and a break from the obligations of a daily work routine. Today, we’re here to talk about a topic that I’m sure is on many of your minds as of recently… PTO during the holidays! Paid time off, especially as the year wraps up, is a common time that people use to bundle up their days off, travel out of their cities or states, and otherwise unplug from their year of work. So, what does that mean for this year and what should you do to plan ahead? Keep reading here to find out…

Scheduling PTO…

  • Planning Ahead: Planning ahead so that you are able to mitigate leaving a high workload to your team and coworkers is the best way to execute PTO smoothly. Whether tax season, campaign launch, end of the year, the beginning of the year, or any other seasonal overload, it is best to avoid leaving the office when the rest of your team and workforce is pushing over time. With the less work left at home, the greater the amount of time you will be able to spend relaxing and unplugging from electronics!
  • Coordination: The most important aspect of leaving your office for a significant period of time (anything more than one week) is keeping everyone up to date with your plans and setting expectations. Make sure to coordinate your deligations far in advance to ensure your team, managers, mentors, and all employees are made well aware of your departure before it happens (we recommend at least one month in advance!).
  • Open Conversation: We hope that this doesn’t come around too often, but be sure to be transparent about your intent to take a few days off with your coworkers. Sneaking the days or otherwise trying to keep it on the DL may result in your teammates being given work that they didn’t have the chance to account time for. Keeping an open approach and flexibility about your hopeful break is the best way to keep everyone in the loop and happy!
  • Across Time or Bundled: If you run yourself too thin across responsibilities, you may end up resenting the office, your teammates, or your role. Remember, you are afforded PTO for a reason… use it! Regardless of the way you distribute these days, affording yourself a three day weekend, a week off, holiday break, or any sum of time throughout the year is a lovely way to recharge, relax, and reprive yourself of your usual routine.

Above all, this has been a long and tough year for many of us. It is time for a BREAK! Allowing yourself space and time to recharge is essential to creating meaningful work in the future. So cozy up with a blanket and some Netflix, and enjoy the last few days of the year!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Negotiating Your Next Offer

We’ve spoken a bit in the past about what it’s like to negotiate an offer, and when there are or aren’t appropriate times to do so. But this begs the question, what components of your offer are up for discussion? Does negotiation go beyond solely focusing on your salary? The answer is yes! And we’re here to teach you about all aspects of your offer to focus on prior to entering the negotiation phase…

Offer Negotiation Focus Points:

  • Salary Increase: First and foremost, salary is a point of conversation through which to negotiate a higher compensation, and often a first go-to for candidates. For that reason, make sure to conduct research to be able to compare the salary you would be provided with the rest of your industry or candidates with your same experience. Approaching the conversation having conducted background research and with preparation is the best way to be taken seriously and considered for a “yes.”
  • Pursuit of Education: If pursuing a higher-education degree (such as a Master’s program) is an integral component of your professional future, having these expenses either partially or majorly covered by your employer is a fantastic weigh to negotiate benefits as well as accelerate your professional career and profile.
  • Sign-on Bonus: Sign-on bonuses may be tightly linked with your overall salary compensation, or are measured on the basis of your need for relocation or other resources to get started in the new position. For this reason, sign-on bonuses may be a negotiable part of your offer. So, come prepared with reasoning as to why you need more resources to become your most prepared self and ready for the first day on the job.
  • PTO: The famous acronym we all know and love, “Paid Time Off.” Your days of PTO may be linked to your experience at a company, your position in the hierarchy, or your specific role and its associated responsibilities. If salary negotiations are not up for discussion, focusing on PTO may be a great way to increase your compensation through another route.
  • Hour Flexibility: Especially for us students and with part-time positions, flexibility relating to your weekly, daily, or monthly hour count in a position may be crucial to our ability to accept a role. So, be transparent with your hiring manager as to what your hourly expectations are, which schedule you prefer, and if there is a way to reach a middle ground so that you can be best suited for success.
  • Extra Aspects to be Aware of: Make sure to look into 401K matching or participation programs, opportunities for growth and promotion, parking permits or commute incentives, etc.!

When looking into your first or any job offer, it is crucial to weigh all aspects that play into your overall compensation. Make sure to avoid having tunnel vision on your salary and be creative in justifying why you are the best candidate for the role and have the exact experience to justify the “why.”

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Let’s Stand Up and Move!

Happy Monday everyone! With all of the upcoming studying on the horizon, we know that’s it’s all too easy for a day to pass you by without even realizing that you’ve been sitting for the majority of the time you’ve been awake. Today, we’re hoping to teach you a few ways to counteract having zero activity over a day of work – doing so will stimulate your physical and mental health simultaneously and improve your ability to focus! Keep reading to find out how…

Let’s Move!

Setting Small Activities

Scheduling in activity breaks is a great way to break up time blocks throughout the day and find a reason to stand up, walk around, workout, or otherwise engage in an activity that requires you to move. Make a commitment to yourself to get up every hour, thirty minutes, or even fifteen for a walk break, and in addition, find reasons to change up your environment. Whether this means walking to your nearest coffee shop for a coffee break, walking to pick up groceries to make lunch or ordering food for takeout or even walking around the block, any activity works.

Stretch Breaks

Sitting for long periods of time, and combining that with staring down at a phone or into a laptop screen will undoubtedly cause tension in your muscles, so stretching is a great way to thank your body for sitting all day. Some easy stretches like spinal twists, half-kneel stretches, or downward dog motions are simple, yet effective. And especially today, there are more workout videos and resources online than ever before – even a five minute YouTube video will stretch out your muscles in an effective and necessary way, while also improving your posture and body alignment.

Spend Time with Friends

Scheduling activities or otherwise stimulate physical movement will help your muscles and mental health, but spending time with friends or family and escaping the thoughts of studying is another great way to feel refreshed and re-focused. It’s so important to remember that your brain needs mental breaks throughout the day in order to increase your productivity and creativity. If you’re feeling tired or experiencing a midday study slump, listen to your mind and walk away from those books! Some of our favorite ways to spend time with friends is through grabbing a cup of coffee, going for a walk, eating a meal together, or just hanging around and watching an episode of mindless TV.

Remember, it’s normal to feel antsy and in need of a break when the majority of your day is spent still and sitting. Always listen to your mind and body, incorporate necessary breaks and fun activities to keep your mind stimulated, relaxed, and focused!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Study Habits Here!

Hi guys! If you read up on our tips and tricks from Monday, and you’re planning to start sitting down and getting to the books in the upcoming weeks, today we’re here to provide you with a few of our favorite study habits. It’s crucial to understand that different strategies work for different people, as well as different types of exams (short answer, multiple-choice, true or false, etc.). However, by piecing through this article, you’ll be equipped to identify your best path to success. . .

Study Habits For You…

  • Flashcards: Arguably one of the oldest strategies in the books, if you’re opting to memorize a group of concepts or words for an upcoming test, creating flashcards and continuously testing yourself on each concept is a great way to get familiar with a large group of concepts in an effective way. Even transcribing your previously written notes onto a new format (flashcards) will help you commit the ideas to memory before entering that self-test phase of preparation. If this seems like the right route for you, make sure to start ahead of time so as to have at least four or five days completely dedicated to hammering in those concepts through self-testing methods.
  • Quizlets: Quizlet is a phenomenal online platform for creating study guides, transforming study sets into online flashcards, and otherwise storing key concepts in one organized place to refer back to as you continue to study. If you’re drawn to an online study format, this might be the best place for you!
  • Note Compilation: My personal favorite strategy, deemed “note compilation” will enable you to piece through a semester-long of notes and slowly draw the most important concepts, only to compile them all onto a new, separate document. Whether you’re doing this by hand or typing into a new document, I find that doing so helps me to refresh my brain on past concepts, reignite an understanding of key points, and ultimately create a guide to read over several times that contains what will likely be on the exam! Doing so also helps me to recognize concepts or terms that have been heavily repeated throughout the course, and therefore hold notable value.
  • Written Memorization: As it relates to compiling your notes, writing down the most important key terms over and over to instill a repetition focused memory is another strategy for memorizing key terms in a class that requires extensive vocabulary or concept memorization. Again, start ahead!
  • Conversation: Once you’re in the final stages of studying, and often a night or two before the exam, I encourage you to sit down with a study mate, or even a friend or parent and talk through the concepts you’ve been working to master. Gaining a new perspective from a classmate, or even showcasing your understanding of a concept to someone unfamiliar with the subject is a great method to test your true understanding of the material.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed about exam season, but figuring out the best method through which you are able to study concepts is your first step to creating an exam routine and achieving success.

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Click here to learn our strategies for success pre-exam season!

Back to School!

Happy Monday everyone! We hope that you had a lovely holiday and were able to find some sense of relaxation. Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we know that many of you are heading back to “school” (online learning) to tackle final projects, coursework, and exams. With the new distractions that come with learning from home, on campus, or surrounded by an unfamiliar environment, we’re here to help. Whether replicating a library in your bedroom or planning ahead, several strategies will set you up to ace these last tasks of the semester…

Let’s Get to Work…

  • Task Prioritization: Between assignments, presentations, projects, and exams, it’s crucial to prioritize assignments based on their due date and impact on your overall grade. Make sure to avoid spreading yourself too thin across multiple projects; to avoid this, pace your study schedule out across days and a variety of times, incorporate breaks, so that you won’t be left with cramming for hours on end in the days leading up to due dates. By prioritizing obligations, you will find yourself on a healthy track towards success!
    • Measurable Goals: A great way to set measurable priorities is to include goals for each assignment or study habit. Whether this means a one-hour goal of studying per exam each day, or a one-page goal per report or essay to be completed every other day, SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely) will assist you in actually tracking progress and spanning obligations over a time period instead of cramming at the last moment.
  • Start Early! We know this one is especially easier said than done; however, in order to truly get on top of several different exams and complimentary coursework, you must hit the books sooner than later. By dedicating a half-hour or some set amount of time each day to each exam or subject matter, you’ll be able to steadily and more effectively absorb large sums of information.
  • Create a Routine: Once courses end and study time begins, we know it can be easy to fall out of a regular routine and into the grey space of debating whether to study or relax for a bit. So, to stay on track with all of your assignments and associated due dates, we encourage you to set a routine for the remainder of your semester so as to hold yourself accountable to measurable goals. Incorporating a daily alarm clock, making your bed, cheffing up a breakfast, or otherwise setting consistent tasks is a great way to replicate a regular day, but adapted to a study environment.
  • Differentiate Spaces: If you’re feeling trapped between lying in bed or getting situated at an in-bedroom desk, we highly encourage you to differentiate your living spaces to separate the intention of each space. What we mean by this is that pillows stay on the bed, notebooks stay on the desk, and so on so that your belongings are in the right place and your mind is as well!

It’s the home stretch everyone! Remember, leave time for brain breaks and relaxation among roommates, friends, or family. We believe in you!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Check out what we’re thankful for here!

Utilizing Down Time Over Break

If you’re home for the holidays, if you have a few days off from school, or even if you are indefinitely in between job positions, there are many ways to interlace productivity into your Thanksgiving Break. Now, if you’re seeking a relaxing, work-free five day period, stop reading here – we’re all about relaxation! But, if you’re a bit antsy or seeking a way to fill time while accelerating your position as a candidate, then this article is for you…

Down Time Turned Productivity…

  • Resume Upkeep: Yes, we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again… keep those resumes updated with all of your most recent experiences! Tailoring a few to the look and style of different industries (whether this means including an initial graphic, adding a pop of color, using traditional or trending fonts, etc.), will help you quickly apply to a variety of roles when they arise.
  • Coffee Chats: While maintaining awareness that this time is often used to decompress and forget about work for just a quick moment, there are still some employees aching to stay involved that could be willing to fill thirty minutes of their day to get to know you and teach you a bit about their role, career path, and journey to where they are at now. So, if you’ve had your eye on any potential future mentors, employees at companies you look up to, or even family friends, scheduling a coffee chat sometime this week could be the right next step.
    • Always make sure to provide several available time slots and be flexible!
  • Recommendation Letter Requests: For all of our grad-school applicants, or even our high school seniors, getting ahead of the break (which often means Wednesday for our students) by requesting a recommendation letter is a great way to provide your request with ample time to complete, alleviating the feeling of immediate obligation and instead as a more casual to-do. Always make sure to be clear in your ask, provide a wide window of time for completion, and even provide some materials to highlight the important accomplishments, courses, personal attributes, or other aspects of your life that you’d like them to pay attention to while creating.
  • Course Mapping: With Spring enrollment just around the corner, Thanksgiving break is a great time to begin mapping out the courses and requirements you’re looking to fulfill for the next semester. This may even mean chatting in school groups, gauging certain professor approaches, seeking time recommendations (if you’re an early bird or late starter), and otherwise identifying if there is a schedule feasible with all of your requests.
  • Study Guide Initiation: Trust me, we’ve all been procrastinators before. However, if you are someone seeking to be productive over these next few days, we absolutely recommend you start drafting out a few study guides for upcoming final exams. It is abundantly proven that when studying is spread out over long durations in short spurts instead of crammed into an overnight endeavor, you will perform better!

Again, this is a week for relaxation and time spent with friends, family, pets, or even the television. However, if you’re feeling anxious, antsy, or interested in any of the above actions, you’re sure to set yourself up for future success!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list here!

5 Activities to Pass Time at Home!

As many of us college students head back from the holidays, and with the understanding that some travel is still essential around this time, it’s more likely than not that you will be quarantined upon arrival at your new location! So, how can you pass the time throughout the upcoming days? We’re here to help! Keep reading to find out our favorite activities that you can do right from your living room couch (or bed, or just at home in general!)…

5 Activities From Home…

  1. Try out a New Recipe: Getting back in the kitchen is a great way to fill an afternoon with fun, and a welcome distraction from other necessities and obligations of daily life. Now more than ever, there is an endless number of recipes online relating to all cuisines and diets. So, find a friend, a partner, a family member, or take on the endeavor by yourself!
  2. Movie Marathon: There is nothing more nostalgic than bundling under a blanket, grabbing a bowl of popcorn, turning off the lights, and cozying up to a movie marathon. Unsurprisingly one of our favorites is Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, but more than just the actual film, it’s a great way to just relax with those you love.
  3. Engage in a Massive Puzzle: If you’re looking for some brain stimulation, this one’s for you! Getting a hold of a thousand-piece puzzle will keep you occupied for days or weeks to come.
  4. Try out a New Craft: Whether painting, coloring-by-number, using clay, creating DIY jewelry, or even face painting, channeling your inner creativity is a great way to fill a day and also in a way that you’ve likely not engaged in any time recently.
  5. Self-Care Day: And of course, what’s a true quarantine without a bit of self-care? Stocking up on some face masks, painting your nails, making a cup of coffee, or engaging in any activity completed intended for your own care is encouraged and recommended.

While we understand we chose against hyper-focusing on productive activities, we hope that you recognize the importance of relaxing and sometimes just taking it easy for a few days (outside of work obligations). So, indulge yourself in some fun, self-care, and delicious activities while you’re ordered to stay at home! If you have tried a new activity that you’ve loved “in the q,” make sure to drop it in the comments!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list here!

Click here to learn more about finding success in interviews!

Capitalizing on an Employment Gap

As we are all aware, there are more people stressing job loss and experiencing employment gaps than we have seen in the past several years. If you fit this profile, and as the majority of candidates will experience this in-between space within their professional careers, we’re here to help teach you a few ways in which you can utilize your time to optimize strategies that will assist you in landing your next opportunity. Keep reading below to find the ways that we think will help you maintain your professional status as a wonderful candidate…

Capitalizing During an Employment Gap…

  1. Resume Upkeep: In the midst of a workday, we’re sure that the last thing on your mind would be to update your resume to fit your most recent experiences! However, if you’ve got some extra time on your hands, a little resume upkeep is a great way to stay “trendy” with layout, organization, and style, as well as create a resource to rely on and have on hand if any opportunity comes your way.
    1. Extra tip: Tailor different versions of your resume to a variety of industry standards! While financial and several business roles correlate with standard layouts and mainly black and white fonts, journalism focused roles (like creative marketing, graphic design, PR, etc.), are home to a variety of color and organizational formats! So, having a few different types of resumes on hand will help you “customize” your applications in the future without the need for any additional work.
  2. Skill Upkeep and New Endeavors: As you’ve experienced at any point throughout your academic career, sometimes it’s not about the content of the course, but the value is found in training your brain to learn on a constant basis! Exploring new online certifications through companies like LinkedIn or Google, increasing your data competency or exploring introductory coding, or otherwise building any new skillset is a great way to create leverage against other candidates as you compete for positions.
  3. Network: Although we may sound like a broken record…network! You deserve to utilize the connections you’ve worked hard to build throughout your career to secure a foot in the door at a variety of companies prior to interviewing. Who knows if the person you reach out to may coincidentally have a new spot open on their team? Every conversation is worth your time!
  4. Dedication to Each Application: Remember that while you may be able to simply click a button or two and submit a resume to an online job, taking the extra step to tailor your documents (including your cover letter) to the specific job requirements and company values if your key to success!

If you are in the middle of an employment gap, check out our open jobs list here!

Click here to learn more about finding success in interviews!

Expressing Gratitude Today

Even though Veteran’s Day was yesterday, we’re here to remind you of the importance of expressing gratitude for the people around you on a daily basis. It’s crucial to remember that outside of the silly challenges of everyday life, and even the greatest obstacles, the relationships with the people you love hold the power to guide you through the dark times and elevate the light times. Keep reading to hear some of our favorite ways to express gratitude today…

Expressing Gratitude

    1. Remind Someone That You Care! There’s no greater way to show gratitude than by telling someone, in person, that you appreciate all that they do for you. In the midst of the digital age, it’s easy to thank people through emails, text, or even phone calls, but one of our most valued ways to express gratitude is in person.
    2. Suprise a Coworker with Coffee: Now that we’re working behind a screen and without the presence of others, it’s more important than ever to maintain relationships with your coworkers. While coffee may not take a physical form, surprising someone with a virtual gift card to a coffee shop is a great way to not only encourage an individual to take a breath of fresh air and get outside, but to grab a treat along the way.
    3. Pay for the Person Behind You: The next time you find yourself at a coffee or sandwich shop, double your bill for the person behind. With such a surprise and act of kindness, you are guaranteed to make that person’s day!
    4. Clear Your Schedule for Someone Special: This may be a parent, spouse, child, close friend, or even a mentor. Regardless of the relationship, find a day to completely clear your schedule on their behalf. Although our “days” may not look like they used to, taking a long walk, binging a Netflix show, or cooking dinner with company is a great way to showcase to someone that they’re your priority.
    5. Leave an Extra Tip: Especially in places where the bill doesn’t run very high, leave a tip larger than you regularly would! We can guarantee you that your extra note of gratitude will go a very long way. Especially during a time blanketed by job uncertainty, “donating” a few extra dollars to a server or anyone who assists you throughout the day is a great way to pass kindness forward and make a positive impact.

Searching for a new position? Read through our open jobs list!

One of the greatest ways to show gratitude for yourself… learn how to stay well-rounded while working!

How to Wake Up This Morning!

We know that after a few months of routine, a large weekend, or even as the weather cools, it may seem more and more difficult to spring up in the morning and get your day started! If you feel like it’s been more and more of a struggle to rise and shine, this article is for you. Keep reading to find out the best strategies that you should use to start your morning and get out of bed (even if you’re WFH and your desk is right next to you!)…

Waking Up in the Morning…

  • Create a Routine Sleeping Schedule: That’s right, the first step in creating a morning routine is actually starting off with what you do before you fall asleep! Creating a set sleeping schedule, trying to stick to a consistent bedtime, eating a balanced diet, and incorporating exercise into your weekly routine is the best way to set yourself up for a secured night of sleep. Restless nights undoubtedly pair with foggy mornings, so maintaining a consistent amount of sleep is sure to set you up for morning success.
    • Extra tip: Before jumping into bed, we encourage you to create a routine to stimulate relaxation and decompress from a day of work; this may include: drinking tea, reading a book, putting away screens, settling into a face mask, or even a simple task like lighting a candle.
  • Stray from the Snooze Button: We encourage you to best try and avoid reliance on the snooze button when you wake up in the morning. If this means setting your alarm a bit later or going to bed a bit earlier, you’re best bet is to create a wake-up call that you will be the most responsive to, instead of one paired with 30 more minutes of snoozing.
  • Immerse Yourself in Natural Lighting: We all love a hardworking blackout shade, however, simply opening up a window or rolling up the shades will allow your room to fill with the natural lighting of a morning. Reminding yourself that the outside day is starting, and escaping the call to sleep that a dark room entails will absolutely assist you in getting out of that bed and starting your day!
  • Make Your Bed: As we’ve mentioned in the past, there is a ton of scientific evidence as to why making your bed in the morning will help you become more productive. So, why not engage in this simple, timely task to engage your brain and stimulate your activity?
  • Put the Phone Away: Immediately casting attention on your phone contributes to an elongated sense of committing to time spent in your bed. Standing up, stretching your body, and initiating daily activities like washing your face, making a cup of coffee, and getting dressed for the day before returning to screens is a crucial component of letting your body know it’s time to start the day.

It’s no doubt that waking up in the morning is a task and one that may often be quieted by our brain’s desire for “five more minutes!” of sleep. However, engaging in these activities will help you to spring into your morning with energy instead of dragging in feeling sleepy… so get started today! There’s no time like the present.

Click here to find out how to continue immersing in company culture from home!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Immersing in Culture @ Home!

As the majority of us continue to work from home, it’s now more important than ever to continue to find ways to connect with individuals and especially coworkers. Today, we’re here to investigate and offer a few tips for how you can continue to immerse yourself in your company’s culture, weigh its overall values, and maintain relationships with other employees! Whether you’re new to a company or a “vet,” culture will remain a large component of your overall job satisfaction, so keep reading to find out how to best take advantage of this part of your job…

What is Culture?

Work culture is the concept of your company’s values, beliefs, and attitudes – which ultimately influence the environment of your organization. In today’s business climate, workplace culture is very important when searching for a job. If you’re spending forty plus hours a week at an organization, it is essential that you solidify your personal alignment with the driving principles of the company!

How to Get Involved:

  • Teamwork: In your career, you will undoubtedly find yourself working on many different teams with various types of employees. Firms that monitor and encourage contribution from all team members, and from employees at all different levels are firms that exhibit true care for teamwork, and an office that values teamwork will make sure that all employees are dedicated to its morals and values. One of the greatest aspects that help employees feel valued is an organization’s ability to support and encourage uniqueness and creativity. Flexibility awarded to employees as they complete projects, responsibilities, and even paths to take to achieve goals is one of the greatest ways to measure the trust your company has in you.
  • Happy Hours: So, how do you get connected with your team? We encourage you to initiate happy hours or any type of group gatherings where your team or coworkers can get to get to specifically converse about non-work related topics. Doing so will allow you to get to know your coworkers on a personal (but still appropriate) level and take away from the “guilt” of not doing work while you’re supposed to.
  • Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): As organizations become more and more aware of their social responsibility to create a pleasant environment for employees, it is now more common than ever to encounter ERGs. Whether the specific group is centered around identity, belief, affiliation, or hobby, joining an ERG is a great way to connect with others you already share a piece of identity with!
  • Employee Retention: While many aspects of workplace culture are nonmeasurable, employee retention is something that you can actually evaluate. Retention is a great way to measure if culture is being exhibited in an effortful manner. A workplace with a flourishing, successful culture is one that employees will want to work for forever! So, are they staying with your firm?

Above all, we hope that you remember connections and relationships can be cultivated even if they’re through a screen! Taking advantage of the above aspects of any company will allow you to mimic what it’s like to be in-office as much as possible, creating a more meaningful experience with each action you take.

Make sure to read our other blog on workplace culture here!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Last-Minute Interviews

Have you ever found yourself networking, at a career-fair, or virtual event where you stumble into a last-minute, spontaneous opportunity to hop on a networking call or interview? If so, we know the nerves that come with late preparation and are here to ensure you have the tools necessary to always be on your toes and ready to take advantage of an opportunity that comes your way.

Let’s set up the scene: You’ve received the call and set up a time for your upcoming phone interview. Now what? As recruiters who prepare our candidates for interviews on a daily basis, we’re here to point out the strategies we find most beneficial for you!

Always Be Prepared…

  • Always, always be ready and available! In reality, if you are unprepared at the time of your interview, it is unlikely that you will be able to justify this inconvenience in your interviewer’s time. Write your scheduled time down on post-its, set reminders, and allow yourself at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time to wait for the call.
  • Set up Your Environment: Eliminate all potential background noise, whether this is the footsteps of others walking around you, keyboard clicks (take notes on paper!), children, or any other distraction that your interviewer will be able to hear through the phone. This will help you to understand the questions and maintain focus, while also asserting the engagement of your interviewer.
  • Your Greatest Advantage, Note-taking! Arguably the greatest benefit of a phone interview (which is the way that almost all interviews are currently taking place!) is the fact that your interviewer cannot see your face or actions. Take advantage of this opportunity! You should, at the very least, have a sheet of potential questions prepared, as well as a note sheet about company information, values, goals, job responsibilities, and anything else relative to your position. Your interviewer most likely expects that you have this on hand, and for that reason will expect you to be aware and prepared.
    • Extra Tip: This also includes having a copy of your resume on hand!
  • Let Them Lead the Way: A specific challenge regarding phone call conversations is the tendency to intervene, or begin answering a question out of eagerness. However, be sure to allow your interviewer to lead the conversation and finish their sentences before you begin speaking.
  • Tone, Pace, and Enunciation: Pay extra attention to the way in which you will be perceived! Especially due the the fact that you’re unable to showcase a smile and body language through a phone (although this is absolutely possible over video), it is crucial that you maintain awareness of sounding positive, smiling!!, and enunciating each word so as to be as clear as possible in your statements.
  • Practice Makes Perfect! We encourage you to conduct a “mock” phone interview with a friend, family member, or even through a voicemail or voice memo. This is a great way to evaluate your tone, use of “um,” “like,” or other filler words that cause you to sound nervous or shaky, and implement improvements before the real deal!
  • Remember…even the most impromptu interviews could lead to your dream job. Thank your interviewer, prepare questions, introduce yourself and keep a running tab of your key information (strengths, weaknesses, accomplishments, etc.), talk slowly and confidently, and make sure to ask for a moment if you need one!

The most important component of an interview is achieving a positive first impression! Following these strategies will also you to do so in no time.

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Looking for more? Read our article about selling yourself and first impressions!

Jump-Start Your Monday

Happy Monday everyone! If you’re still feeling that weekend slump and seeking a quick strategy to channel back in that motivation, this article is for you. Keep reading to find out our top four tips to jump-start your Monday and get this week going…

Let’s “Jump” Right In…

  1. Practice Mindfulness: Gratitude and mindfulness activities, like journaling or breathing when you wake up instead of opting to grasp your phone, are a fantastic way to help you stay grounded and put your mind at peace before diving into the week’s tasks. Many people steer away from doing so as a result of the misconception that it will take a large sum of effort… don’t be fooled! Gratitude may only take a brief moment to create a mental list of 3 items, people, places, or anything that brings you happiness and positivity. Try to incorporate these exercises into your routine in any way possible!
  2. Plan out Your Days: One of the best ways to foster accountability before even beginning your work obligations is to schedule out your days and weeks as they begin. Creating a list of “To-Dos” throughout days, hours, etc., will help you to create a routine to stay up to date with as well as a means of checking in with yourself. Especially in a WFH or “school”FH format, it is crucial to make sure you’re staying on top of all obligations as usual.
  3. Set Goals: Piggybacking off of our last “tip,” setting goals simultaneously with tasks is another great way to create accountability and foster motivation. Even small goals, like making your bed each morning, are a way to help you feel accomplished and proud!
    • Goal ideas: Make your bed each morning, tidy up your room each week, workout 2x per week, finish checking emails by 5:00 pm, put your work “away” by 7:00 pm, keep ordering into a minimum of once per lunch and dinner each week, etc.!
  4. Eat Breakfast! While this may seem obvious, integrating breakfast into your daily routine is a fantastic way to jet start your morning as well as your metabolism. In addition to proven health benefits, eating breakfast will supply you energy and a consistent “routine” starting action to work off of as if you were truly in the office. This may only include a piece of fruit and coffee, but any bit works.

By creating routines and schedules to hold yourself to, you will be able to mimic an office life at home in no-time. It is incredibly important and a great personal asset to be able to adapt to change; so there is no better time than the circumstances of today’s environment to prove to yourself that you can embrace and thrive when change is thrown your way!

Searching for a new role? Check out our open jobs list!

Read this article to discover why you should stay in touch with recruiters after the job search is over! 

Job Offer Negotiations

Since we’ve been offering you insight into how to appropriately accept and decline job offers, the next step is going about negotiations! If you are on the fence about an opportunity, correctly negotiating an offer is an action that employers have grown to almost expect from prospective candidates and one that is not always discouraged. However, there are ways to do so respectfully, and mechanisms to increase your likelihood of success! Keep reading to find out what they are below…

Negotiation Strategies…

  • Remember: You Don’t Need to Disclose! We strongly encourage you to wait until you receive a formal, written offer letter before initiating negotiations. It is essential to see the exact number the company plans to compensate so as to be able to distinctively identify the quantity of additional pay it will take for you to accept. Additionally, while it may feel uncomfortable to decline to expose your current salary, doing so may decrease the final salary you are offered. Take it this way, disclosing current pay thousands of dollars below what the company would have expected to compensate you will ultimately result in consequential lost salary.
  • Prepare: Before entering into a negotiation conversation, it is essential that you prepare a mental list of reasons as to why you deserve a higher salary, how your qualifications support your opinion, and how potential experiences or offers have contributed to this decision.
    • Extra Tip: Especially if you are negotiating other aspects of your job like work hours, explain specific reasons as to why other hours may not work for you. Also, make sure not to compare it to another company! ie: Well X company is offering __, so I want…
  • Maintain Control: With 3 easy steps, the Ladder’s Emilie Ares will teach you how to move on from this question in a way that will avoid the awkward atmosphere change – while helping you keep a dominant stance over your negotiation (watch here)!
    • Tone Awareness: The most enticing reason to offer competitive pay stems from how valuable you appear to your future employer. An enormous component of value is personality and delivery! For that reason, always maintain awareness of how you are initiating negotiating conversations.
    • Do: Sound respectful, aware, excited, willing to meet a compromise, open-minded, and politely assertive.
    • Don’t: Appear greedy, condescending, expectant, or entitled.
  • Self-Assess and Evaluate: Before deciding whether or not to negotiate, assess whether you are truly open to accepting a final offer at the company you are interviewing for. If so, make sure to express interest and commitment to the position! If it appears that you will not accept a higher offer and are not truly interested, your likelihood of achieving negotiation is far lower.

We’ll end today with a cheesy note of encouragement… remember… If you believe it, you will achieve it! (So, believe in yourself and your worth!)

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!

Job Offer Etiquette Part 2

Happy Monday to everyone! Today, we’re here to share the second half of our previous series surrounding the etiquette of job offer acceptances or declines. Keep reading here if you’re in the midst of accepting a job offer! We’ll teach what to do and what not to do to maintain respect, excitement, and healthy levels of negotiations…

Offer Acceptance…

Express Gratitude!

Whether through email, over the phone, or face to face, expressing appreciation and gratitude for the offer you’re given is the most important trait of respect and portraying your best professional self. While this relates to both accepting and declining offers, no matter how the written and formal component relates to your prior expectations, always make sure to showcase gratitude and thank each employee in the process for the time they’ve spent working with you. Also, if you plan to negotiate at any step along the way, expressing appreciation and excitement will set the right tone to step into the next part of the acceptance process.

Offer Evaluation:

At this point, you’ve received a written physical or digital copy of the offer you’ve been provided by the given company. At this point, it’s time to evaluate each component of the letter: what is the compensation, what are the benefits, do you have access to each of the benefits, how do the PTO days align with your expectations, are you encouraged to relocate, are you able to WFH, what is the commute like… and as you can imagine the list goes on and on! After mentally deciphering each of these questions, and maybe even writing down a pros and cons list, you’ll be ready to analyze your need to negotiate. We encourage you to create a list of concrete evidence (i.e.: experience, previous salary, relocating costs, etc.), prior to entering negotiation conversations so as to be as prepared as possible. Consulting with a recruiter or mentor at this point in the process may be your key to success! And remember, there is often some type of time constraint surrounding the acceptance deadline. Make sure to initiate follow-up conversations about the offer as quickly as possible so as to stay on the right timeline and not leave anything to the last minute!

Accepting the Offer

Finally, accept the offer! Make sure to include a few things in your correspondence: express gratitude and thanks for the opportunity, include verbiage stating that you accept the company’s offer, state what title you are accepting, and recap the salary and benefits that you both agreed on. Recapping the salary and benefits will help ensure there isn’t any confusion on either side. And ultimately…include the date you expect to start!

Accepting a job offer can be stressful at times, but follow our tips to help put your stress at ease. We’ve previously talked about what kinds of questions you should ask before you accept a job offer, so if you need a refresher on that make sure to follow this link!

Searching for a new position? Check out our open jobs list!