Resume Mistakes

Resumes are frequently spoken about here at Esquire Recruiting, LLC. Resumes are extremely prevalent in securing a job and it helps hiring managers learn about you. Today, we will discuss some resume mistakes to avoid! Avoiding the mistakes listed below will help you ensure that your resume is in tip-top shape.

Sloppy Mistakes: Sloppy mistakes can be totally avoided with a little extra work and attention. These mistakes consist of things such as spelling errors, typos, and punctuation. With a little extra proofreading, you can avoid these mistakes that will make a hiring manager think twice about your application. Proofread your resume a few times by yourself and when you finally think it is perfect, send it to a friend to proofread.

Generic Resume: Your resume should not look the same for every job you apply to. This can be a very time-consuming task to edit it for every job application, but it can be worth it. Sending a generic resume to employers will give them the inkling that you don’t particularly care about that specific job.

Keywords: The best way to tailor your resume to every job application is to use keywords. Look at the job description for the position you are applying to and use it to your advantage. Use the keywords from the job description in your resume. It can be tedious to edit your resume for every individual job you are applying to, but it is worth the time. Sell yourself and convince the company that they should hire you.

Accomplishments: A common mistake many people make is highlighting their job duties rather than their accomplishments. Put an emphasis on what you accomplished in your past positions, not what you had to do. Demonstrate the activities you have accomplished within your daily job duties. Show the hiring manager/company through your accomplishments that you went above and beyond.

Following these tips can help you avoid some major mistakes when writing your resume. Updating your resume is a great way to get yourself back into the job search.

Check out some resume tips from Esquire recruiters here!

Ready to get into the job search? Check out our open jobs!

Are You Resilient?

This week, we are talking about resilience! Resilience is the ability to adapt to problems and stressors in the face of adversity. Resilience is useful in our personal lives and our work lives. Life, in general, is constantly changing, so we need to learn how to become resilient. Continue reading below to find out how to do so!

Stress: Stress and resiliency often go hand in hand. If you are experiencing an extremely stressful situation, resiliency will be the glue that helps hold you together. Try to reframe the way you are viewing your stress. Don’t treat every situation like a crisis, otherwise, your body will respond that way. Take an optimistic look at stress, in order to reframe the way you react in stressful events.

Change: Change is one of the only constant factors in life, so try to accept that change occurs and it is inevitable. This applies to your career as well, not just your personal lives. Coworkers and bosses may come and go, or you might find yourself switching career paths. Whatever it may be, accept the changes and be resilient. Resilience will help you bounce back when change occurs and ensure that you are able to recover.

Daily Wins: A great way to learn resilience, is to find something to celebrate every day. Each day, recognize a small win that occurred. Maybe you finished your work report before the deadline or you were finally on time for a meeting – small wins like those are what will keep you going and build resilience.

Support: Find a support system that you can lean on. This can consist of family, friends, or even colleagues. Stress and difficult times are much easier to deal with if you have a team of people to rely on. Emotional and mental support is critical to help us get through life, jobs, projects, etc.

These are just four ways to build your resilience and change your mindset, there are so many more too! If you find yourself in a rut right now, remember that nothing is permanent. With strength and resilience, we can make it through anything.

 

Are you currently working from home? Check out our blog about it here!

Also, check out our current open jobs!

Online Classes

Last week we talked about working remotely and today we are going to talk about online classes! Whether you’re a part-time or full-time student, online classes can be beneficial to you! Just like working at home, online classes take someone who is disciplined and productive in order to get the job done. Continue reading to find out some tips and tricks!

Time Management

Time is of the essence! When taking an online class, it’s important that you carve time out of your schedule to get your work done just like you would for a normal in-person class. If you do not have set times and days that you set aside for working on the online class, you might fall behind. Online classes have the same amount of material and work that a regular class has. Make sure you plan ahead!

Learning Style

Some people may take an online course, only to find out it’s not for them. If you’re a visual learner, you might need to look at powerpoints, graphs, or charts. If you learn best by listening, watching videos about concepts may help. It all depends on how you learn best! Online classes are not as interactive as the traditional class – a classroom with a professor and classmates. Keep that in mind before enrolling!

Limit Distractions

It’s very easy to get sidetracked when working on assignments and projects for online classes. Try to limit your social media use and web browsing when you are supposed to be getting work done. Log out of all of your accounts if you need to and make a deal with yourself to not log back in. If you get one assignment done, then you can scroll on social media for a few minutes. It’s all about balance and it can be hard to stay focused with many distractions.

Environment

Try to find a study space where you can be your best productive self. This may be a spot in the library, your desk at home, or a coffee shop. Wherever you can go to get work done without external distractions! A quiet area where you can fully think about the material you are working on is best.

An online class can have many challenges! Take into consideration all factors before deciding to take an online course. Like working remotely, online courses take determination and productivity!

Did you miss last week’s blog about working remotely? Read here! 

If you’re currently searching for a job, check out our open jobs here!

Working Remotely

Working remotely is a lot more common in today’s work culture than it used to be. There is nothing better than waking up in the morning and not having to deal with a work commute! To work remotely you need to be informed and disciplined, so continue reading to learn some tips and tricks!

Environment: The first thing you need to take into consideration is your environment. Are you going to work at home or a local coffee shop? If you choose to work at your home, it’s important to designate a space that is strictly for working. It can be difficult to get productive work done sitting on the couch in front of the TV. Switching up your routine can be helpful too! Maybe work a few days at home and a couple of days in a local coffee shop or library. The goal is to have an environment the ensures productive and quality work.

Time: A misconception about working remotely is that people work less! This is far from the truth. Those that work remotely still work 40 hour weeks, but the time is more flexible. IF you are a morning person you might choose to start your work at 5 AM so you can be done in the early afternoon. The night owls, on the other hand, may choose to begin their work at 12 PM. It all depends on when you can do your best work.

Breaks: The best part about working remotely is that you can be more flexible with your breaks. Allow yourself the typical amount of breaks as you would get in a corporate office. It’s good for our brains to take a minute to reset throughout the day. Working remotely gives you the freedom to go to a workout class during your lunchtime or running an errand.

Communication: Since you are no longer a few offices down from your colleague, communication is key when you are working remotely! Have a routine schedule for conference calls with colleagues in order to stay up to date. This will help you feel more in the loop and collaborate on assignments and projects if you need to.

Working remotely is not for everyone, but has so many great perks! No longer experiencing the dreaded commute and cubicle living are just a few!

Searching for a new position online? Read our article to find out exactly what search engines to use! 

Also, check out our current open jobs!

Interview Dress Code

Have you ever worried about what you should wear for a job interview? I know I have. It’s such a simple, yet complex decision. Unfortunately, you are partially judged on your appearance when interviewing for a job. That’s why we are going to talk about how to prepare an outfit for a job interview. Continue reading below!

Research: You have to research the company beforehand anyways, so why not try to research their company culture! Figure out how they dress by checking out their social media. Are they business attire, business casual, or casual? If you feel like you don’t want to stand out in business attire if they are a business casual culture, then do what feels right!

Dress For Success: You may have done your research and discovered that the company is business casual, but you really wanted to wear your pencil skirt or suit. Guess what? It’s okay to overdress for the interview! Dressing for success is proven to boost our confidence in situations like interviews. Extra effort is always okay for an interview outfit.

Simplicity: When you think of your outfit, keep it simple. Don’t go overboard on your jewelry or accessories. Wear simple pieces that are elegant and conservative. Simplicity is key for colors as well! Try to wear black, brown, grey, dark blue or other dark shades of colors.

Judgment: Use your best judgment when trying to put together an outfit for your interview. Keep your outfit choices appropriate and simple. Of course, your appearance is your very first impression, but we don’t want your outfit to distract your interviewer from what you are saying or bringing to the table.

Interview outfits don’t need to be that stressful! Pick an outfit that you feel comfortable and confident in. Read our specific interview dress code here! 

Prepare yourself for interview questions here! 

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

Constructive Criticism at Work

Last week, we talked about communicating with colleagues, so this week we will discuss how to give constructive criticism at work. Criticism at work is tricky because you don’t want to come across rude or awkward. However, giving and receiving criticism or corrections at work is a normal thing. It doesn’t mean you aren’t good at your job, it just means that there is something you can do to make yourself even better. Continue reading to learn how to smoothly and efficiently give constructive criticism at work!

Timing: The timing of your feedback matters. Don’t wait a week after someone makes a mistake and then tell them what they did wrong. Give them the feedback right away, so they can start working on it ASAP.

Preparation: While you should give them the feedback right away, think about the best way to word your criticism and deliver it to them so it is a productive and effective conversation.

In-person: This one is important. No one wants to receive criticism through an email or direct message. Give your colleague criticism in person so you can communicate well and they can ask questions if needed.

Direct: Be direct and matter of fact! Don’t try to sugar coat your criticism with something positive first, your actual message may get lost.

Context: When delivering criticism, you need to put it into context. Give your colleague specific examples so you can ensure they understand if it is a minor mistake or a significant one.

Be Clear: Make sure your colleague understands what needs to be changed. You can make sure of this by offering to work on the problem together or providing them with resources to use.

Perspective: Perspective is useful because you might understand with your colleague made the mistake they did. Listen to what they have to say because it will help you reach an understanding.

When giving criticism, remember to be kind and that everyone makes mistakes, even you! Be open to listening to what your colleagues have to say. Criticism should be a dialogue and there should be a discussion rather than a one-way conversation.

If you are one the receiving end, learn how to accept criticism here!

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

Stress at Work

In life and careers, getting stressed out is inevitable. You might feel like you’re drowning in work or your personal life, but it has been proven that some stress is actually good for us. If you don’t take stress by the horns and use it to your advantage, it’s easy to become overworked and overstressed. Today, I want to talk about how to use stress to your advantage.

Pressure vs. Stress: Pressure is when something is at stake depending on your performance. Feeling this pressure can lead you to feel overstressed, but if you differentiate between the two, you can eliminate some stress. Remind yourself that you are feeling pressure at the moment, only because you have to make that deadline, close the deal, or prep a meeting. Pressure can be a very productive thing by helping you work harder, improve your performance, or be more creative. Pressure does not always have to be stressful.

Perspective: Perspective can be a powerful thing. Changing the way we think about problems can be a step towards eliminating stress. If you tend to overthink problems and think they’re the end of the world, start writing your problems down. Putting them onto paper and getting those thoughts out of your head may help you see that the problem might not matter as much as you think.

Disconnect: Disconnecting from all devices is an obvious way to combat stress. Give yourself time during the workday or the end of the day and turn off all of your devices. If you do this for a few minutes during the workday, you will be able to find some inner peace. At the end of the day, it is a given that you need to disconnect from work.

Reaction: Study the ways your body reacts when you are stressed out. Identify that your mind races or your palms start sweating. Learning your symptoms can help you make a game plan. The next time your palms sweat and your mind is racing with negative thoughts, get up from your desk and go on a quick walk. Removing yourself from the stressful environment for a minute will help you stay present and mindful.

Stress is good for us in small doses and we all experience some sort of stress every day. Recognize how you feel and how you react when you are stressed out, and use the above tips to take advantage of your stress.

Stressed after work? Read here about an after work routine!

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

Communicating With Colleagues

Do you work with other people? In almost any job, you have to communicate with people every day. Communication is one of the most important tools to use at work. Working with other people can be stressful at times, so today we are going to talk about how to ease that stress. Continue reading to find out how to communicate with your colleagues better!

Communication Style: Understanding what your own communication style is before interacting with others can be very beneficial. Are you analytical, personal, functional, or intuitive? There might be times where you need to alter the way you communicate depending on who you are talking to. If you find yourself to be analytical and always concerned with the hard facts and data, you might need to adapt if you are speaking with a coworker who is intuitive and doesn’t like hearing about all of the little details. Understanding our personal communication styles, along with our colleagues, is crucial in order to communicate better.

Channel Preference: The channel we choose when communicating with our peers and colleagues is an important part of the communication process.  Do they like to use email, face to face interaction, instant messaging, or phone calls? What is your preferred method of communication? If you prefer your colleagues to email you in the morning while you’re catching up on work rather than talking face to face, make them aware of it. Find out how what methods your colleagues like to use throughout the workday. Respecting each other’s preferred method of communication will help make communicating easier.

Constructive Criticism: Communicating difficult things, such as criticism, can be a hard message to get across. When you need to do this with your colleagues, stay constructive. Give them pointers that will help them improve their work or project, without attacking or embarrassing them.

Mistakes: Miscommunication and mistakes will happen often at work and with colleagues. Use direct communication when these things occur to ensure it solved efficiently and quickly. Recognize your mistake, apologize, and fix it as best as you can. When a colleague makes a mistake, give them the same grace you show yourself.

Conflict in the workplace is going to happen. It’s inevitable because we are communicating with different people every day. Use the above tips to help you avoid conflict when communicating at work. Your day at work shouldn’t be filled with stress about communicating with your peers!

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

Is company culture important to you? Find out here! 

Personal Websites?

Have you ever thought about creating a personal website? It may seem over the top and unnecessary, but there are actually many benefits to your own website. Continue reading and I will share some of the benefits and things you should include in a personal website!

Benefits

First Impression: While a resume is your first impression to potential employers and recruiters, it is also very common for them to google your name. When they google you and end up finding a website with all of your information included, they might be pleasantly surprised. This will help you make a great impression.

Online Presence: An online presence is so important in our digitally-driven society. The first place people will look you up is through social media/google. A personal website will be beneficial because you can link all of your professional social media accounts in one place. Potential employers and recruiters will be able to find your LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc, all through your personal website. A personal website will help create a strong online presence, and it is even better for showing off all of your best work, awards, and skills. Depending on your career, you could include things on the website such as portfolio/work samples, client testimonials, pictures, video clips, etc.

Creativity: A personal website gives you a better chance of being creative as opposed to a resume. Your website is like an interactive resume and portfolio all about you, which you can design and create. Use the small details to your advantage, things like font and theme, because whatever you choose will send a message of who you are. With full creative freedom, you might want to start writing a weekly business blog or write about projects you’re working on. With a personal website, you have the flexibility to post whatever content you want.

A personal website will not make or break your job search and/or career. If you choose to make one, it is simply an enhancement to your online presence. If you don’t know where to start, here are some links to take a look at – Revu, WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix. These are all great platforms that can help you create your own personal website, but as always make sure to do some research before taking the plunge.

Are you in the midst of an employment gap? Read here to find out what to do!

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

Job Search Tips

At Esquire Recruiting, LLC, we want to help prepare you for success! Which is why we will be talking about job search tips today. The hunt for a job may seem easy in our digital era, but it can still be stressful! Continue reading to learn some tips that can help put your mind at ease during a job search.

Tips & Tricks

Organization: One of the first steps you should take in the job search process is getting organized! Organize your thoughts and your productivity. Before you fully begin your job search, take time to think about what you truly want in a job. Once you know what you’re looking for, it will make it a bit easier. Developing an organization system for your job search will be a key to success. Something as simple as a spreadsheet or a planner will help you remember what jobs you applied for, where you have scheduled interviews, and jobs you still need to apply for. If a spreadsheet or planner isn’t your style, develop a system that works best for you.

Resume: The obvious task to complete before beginning a job search is updating your resume. If it’s been a while since you’ve looked at your resume, it’s time to give it the TLC it needs. Since your resume is essentially a first impression of who you are, you should make sure everything is cleaned up, up to date, and customized. Check out our blog here on how to update your resume.

Network: We have talked about networking on our blog before, but this can be a crucial step in the job search process. Utilizing all of the contacts you have made may lead to some job opportunities. Former colleagues and acquaintances are normally happy to lend a hand or help you find a great job opportunity. LinkedIn is also a great place to start when reaching out to your connections!

These are just a couple of ways to have success during your job search. Remember that while it is a stressful time, it can be so rewarding in the end when you get that interview or job you wanted.

Read here about some more key strategies for job search success!

If you’re currently searching for a job, check out our open jobs here!

Small Things You’re Being Judged On

Judgments are made by our peers and acquaintances unknowingly every day. Today, we are going to talk about certain things or habits you may have that influence the way people think about you. These can apply to everyday life, but also your work life, and help you make the best impression possible.

Handshake: Many people believe that your handshake tells a lot about you as a person. While we shouldn’t judge people on something as simple as a handshake, it is your first impression when you meet someone or in interviews. Some people associate a weak handshake with personality traits such as low confidence, shyness, introversion, etc. A firm handshake indicates that you have high confidence in yourself.

Time: Whether you show up to events and meetings on time can be a major thing you are being judged on. This, of course, depends on who is making the judgments. If your boss is holding a meeting promptly at 9 AM and expects everyone to be punctual, this is not a situation where you should show up late. Arriving late to meetings and interviews can come across as if you do not care or do not respect the people you are meeting. The U.S. culture is very focused on time, especially in the professional world.

Eye Contact: Eye contact is a great tool to use when listening to coworkers or peers talk. It helps them know you are taking in what they are saying and engaged. On the other hand, too much eye contact can be seen as threatening or uncomfortable. Find a happy-medium, natural eye contact is the way to go.

Phone Etiquette: In our technology-driven society, phone etiquette is a big factor in which people may be judging you. Pulling out your phone in the middle of a conversation or meeting is frustrating to those you are interacting with. It communicates to others that you don’t respect them or care about what they are saying. While a lot of us may use our phones for our jobs, it’s important to know what time and place is acceptable to use your phone.

There should be a happy-medium and good balance of all of these things and habits. These will not make or break you as a person, but it will help you make a great impression on your peers, coworkers, bosses, etc.

Read here to learn how to accept criticism at work!

Are you searching for a job? Check out our open jobs list here!

Interview Prep!

Here at Esquire Recruiting, LLC we talk a lot about interviews and how to do your best because we want you to succeed! Interviews aren’t always an easy task and they can be scary at times. Today, we’re going to talk about three topics and things you should be doing to prepare for your interview in order to feel more confident!

Research

Completing your due diligence ahead of time is imperative for the interview. Research can be time-consuming, but if the role is something you care about then it won’t seem tedious. Research the role you applied for. To do this, read the job description thoroughly so you know exactly what the company is looking for in their candidate. Research the company as well. Understand their values and mission, and try to find out anything you can about their workplace culture. Researching will help you feel prepared before your interview.

Practice

Practicing for interviews can seem silly and unnecessary, but it really does help! Find someone to help you do a mock interview. Practice answering questions about the role of the job, your skills, and the company’s values. Practicing can help you formulate good answers, so you don’t sound as awkward or unsure during the real thing. Mock interviews can also help eliminate anxiety and stress when it comes time for the real thing. Confidence is key!

Questions

Prepare some questions that you can ask the hiring manager or person who is conducting the interviews. We have previously posted about questions to ask the employer, so familiarize yourself with that post if you need some ideas. Always show up to your interview prepared with some questions to ask. Questions show them that you are interested and it also shows that you have done your research, which is a good thing!

Preparing for interviews might seem unnecessary to some, but it boosts confidence and success. Above, we have talked about just a few of the things you should be doing before an interview. Use those suggestions to help get your head in the right place before an interview. Start preparing for an interview more than one day in advance, this will be sure to make you feel prepared.

 

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

Prepare for tricky interview questions by checking our article here!

 

Moving On…

Today, we’re talking about moving on. And by moving on, I mean quitting your job. Quitting a job and career is a huge life decision and it should not be taken lightly. If you’ve ever felt trapped, unappreciated, or unhappy in your job, then it might have been the time for you to move on. Continue reading below to find out what questions you should be asking yourself before you take the plunge and quit!

The following questions are all initial things to ask yourself. When you are contemplating a decision that will potentially change your life, you need to be positive it’s the right one. One of the first steps is to establish the problem you are having in your job. Is it something that can be solved or is it really time to move on?

  • Why am I quitting?
  • Do I feel unvalued and unappreciated?
  • Can I change anything I am doing so my job can make me happier?
  • Can I afford to quit?
  • Is my work environment unbearable or do I dread going to work?
  • Am I still developing as a person?
  • Is there room for growth in this current position or do I feel overqualified?
  • Do the company values still line up with my own?
  • Am I bored?

These are all great questions to ponder and figure out before you make a final decision. Some other things to think about when determining if you should quit are your future and your goals. If your future is at stake by quitting, then it may not be the time. Set into place a realistic plan that will help you find a new job. Think more about the goals you have already created and what you want for your life and career. Timing is everything, so that is also another factor you should really think about. Moving on can be bittersweet. The ultimate goal is to have a job that you love and that makes you happy.

Ready to leave your current job? Read our article here!

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

After Work Time!

Do you think about work when you get home for the day or take your work home with you every night? In today’s world, it is normal to have work hours that stray from the typical 9-5. The lines might feel blurred on whether or not you should continue some work at home or leave it in the office.  If you don’t want to bring your work home or feel bogged down by work, continue reading! Today, we’re going to talk about some ways to stop thinking about work when you are done for the day.

  1. Write it down: A great way to get your mind off work is to journal or write down how you are feeling. If you do this exercise right when you get home from work, it will help clear your mind.
  2. Distract yourself: The end of your day should be time used for yourself, not thinking about what’s going on at work. Do an activity that you genuinely enjoy. This might be cooking, watching tv, working out, playing a game, going for a walk, etc. The options can be endless. Choose something that will take your full attention so you can truly relax.
  3. Turn everything off: A great way to unplug from work is to literally turn off your devices. Log out of your work email or shut down your computer. Doing this will limit your need to feel like you have to reply if you get an email after hours or if something comes up. If you aren’t obligated to be reachable after hours, turn off your devices and log out of everything!

Escaping work can seem impossible sometimes. A lot of studies show that we need downtime from work because it helps our minds reboot and even makes us more productive. Sometimes when we don’t think about a certain problem for a while, we come back refreshed, ready, and with new ideas. Read below to find out some things you should do in the future to make sure you don’t stress about work after hours.

  1. Lists: A couple of hours before you leave the office for the day create a list. The list can include projects and tasks you have already accomplished and then tasks that still need to be completed before the end of the day. This is a useful organization tactic for your mind and what you need to get done. By creating this list, it gives you something to look at the following day to see what still needs to be accomplished.
  2. Update people: Right as you leave, you can make an out of office reply for your email. This way, when people email you, they know you have left for the day and their email won’t be returned until the morning. This is a great literal way to send the message that you are done working for the day.
  3. No Work Zone: When you get home for the day, establish a space in your home where you do not allow yourself to work. For example, you may only allow yourself to work in your home office, so every other space is for leisure time. This will help you establish boundaries within yourself.

Our culture is constantly on the go and very time-oriented. This can make people feel like they need to be reachable 24/7, but that isn’t the case. Use the strategies above to give yourself downtime from your workday

Click here to learn how to advocate for yourself!

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

Accepting a Job Offer

We’ve previously talked about what kinds of questions you should ask before you accept a job offer, but we have never discussed how to accept a job offer. Accepting a job offer can be simple, especially after you ask all the right questions. Today, let’s talk about what to do when you get a job offer.

Express Appreciation

Obviously one of the first things you should do is thank the person who offered you the job. This can be through email, over the phone, or face to face. Show your gratitude for the job offer and thank them for their time. Expressing appreciation and excitement will set the tone off the right way, especially if your next step is negotiating.

Negotiate

Before you jump ahead of things, think about if there are any terms you need to negotiate with your future employer. Make sure you are getting proper compensation for your skills. Have a set number in mind in case a negotiation happens when you are offered the job.

Time Length

How long do you have before you should accept the offer? This is a question people often struggle with. You may want to accept the offer right away because you’re excited and eager, but hold off and ask for a day or two to think about the offer. If it’s not possible to wait a couple of days to accept the offer, then that is okay too. Feel it out, and whatever feels right to you at the moment is what you should go with.

Get The Offer in Writing

Taking a few days to accept the offer will be a great time to ask to get it in writing. Receiving your job offer in writing gives you the information you need on paper, so you can fully understand what the offer is and what your role will be.

Accepting the Offer

Finally, accept the offer! Write an acceptance letter- if you are corresponding over email, you can also email your letter. In your letter, you need to include a few things. To start, express your gratitude once again and write a thank you for the opportunity. Also, include verbiage stating that you accept the company’s offer- (something like “I formally accept..”). You need to 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. Lastly, 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.

Read about the questions to ask before accepting a job offer here!

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

Counteract Sitting All Day

It’s no secret that sitting at a desk all day is bad for your health. Today, we are going to talk about ways to combat the physical and mental effects of sitting down for long periods of time. Continue reading below to find some tips and tricks to help you power through your day at work.

Move!

Get up and move throughout the day! Standing up and moving around after sitting for a long period of time is going to be most beneficial; for you. Make a commitment to yourself to get up every hour and go on a quick walk around the office. Set a time limit that you’re comfortable with, like working for 60 minutes straight and then standing up for 10 minutes.

Stretch!

In order to alleviate tension in your muscles, stretch! Some easy stretches like spinal twists, half-kneel stretch, or downward dog are simple yet effective. Stretching your muscles periodically after sitting in front of a computer all day will improve your posture and help your body alignment. After stretching, your body will feel better and looser because stretching really well produces blood flow.

Brain Break!

Getting up from your desk every hour or so is not only good for you physically, but also mentally. Stretching or going on a quick walk will make you feel refreshed! Your brain needs mental breaks throughout the day in order to increase your productivity and creativity. If you’re feeling tired or have a midday crash, that would be the perfect time to stretch or get up from your desk. It will diminish those feelings of drowsiness and help you feel more alert to get through the end of the day.

It’s not possible for someone to sit for 8 hours a day and not have any physical or mental effects. Use these tips to counteract the effects sitting has on your body!

Did you miss last week’s blog? Catch up here! 

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

Benefits of An Early Morning Routine

What time do you wake up every day? The start of someone’s morning can either make or break their workday. If you roll out of bed late, ten minutes before you need to leave the house, chances are you’ll spend your day feeling rushed and behind on work. Today we are going to talk about why you should set your alarm and get out of bed early every day!

Start Your Day Right

Mornings set the tone of your day and how you start your morning is so important. Some of the most successful people in our world get up before 6 A.M. every day. These early risers consist of people like – Oprah Winfrey, LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner, former Starbucks Exec Howard Schultz, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, etc. If these successful businessmen and women are all early risers, then there must be some truth in establishing an early morning routine!

Morning routines enable you to prepare for your day ahead. If you wake up 2 hours before you have to be at work this gives you ample time to get organized and ahead on tasks. A two-hour window in the morning (example: 5-7 AM) gives you time to check and respond to emails, plan your day, work out, or meditate. An activity in the morning that will energize you will help you feel more productive – which is ideal for the start of your day. You may have a different idea of what kind of activities will help center and relax you, but make sure it is a good habit before pursuing it.

Accomplishing simple tasks in the morning (like clearing out your email inbox or eating a healthy breakfast) will set a chain reaction for productivity throughout your day. These tasks may feel easier as well because our minds are more clear after a night of sleep. Setting your alarm for 5 A.M every day can be very drastic if you are normally waking up at 7 A.M. Start slow and give yourself time to adjust. Set your alarm for 5-10 minutes earlier each morning until you are able to wake up at 5 A.M. This will make the early wake-up call easier and help make it a solid habit.

An early routine is definitely something you should try! It’s a healthy habit that might end up improving your job performance and overall quality of life.

Read here to find out some more healthy habits for your routine!

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

Letters of Recommendation

This week we’re talking letters of recommendation! Letters of recommendation may not be as relevant or used as much during interviews, but they have many uses. A letter of recommendation can be used for job interviews, internship interviews, scholarship applications, or even graduate school references. A letter of recommendation is a tool that could set you apart from other candidates and help vouch for the skills you vocalize during your interview. When the hiring manager or employer asks for references, that is also the perfect opportunity to present a letter of recommendation. Continue reading below to find out how to write a great letter of recommendation!

What To Include

If you are writing or receiving a letter from someone, it needs to be quality work. For starters, you need to have information about the person you are writing about. This includes who they are, what your connection is, stating why you think they are qualified, and specific skills they possess. Some topic ideas to write about: potential, consistency, persistence, motivation, skills, abilities, strengths, character, contributions (to their career or school life), and accomplishments.

Include examples! Using specific examples of what the candidate has accomplished to back up the skills you listed is helpful. It will show the hiring manager that you are a credible source and that you’re not just listing these skills about the candidate, but their actions prove it too.

Use keywords- ask the candidate for a copy of the job description and their resume. Using keywords from the job description can help you target what kind of person this position is looking for. The length of your letter should not be less than 1 page or longer than 2 pages. Try to keep it short and concise so a hiring manager doesn’t have to read through many pages.

The letter should include your contact information so the hiring company can follow-up with you if need be. This is a personal endorsement, so make sure everything you write about the candidate is sincere and that you can back it up. You may find yourself answering follow-up questions about the candidate since you are a reference for them.

Writing a letter for someone else may be challenging, but just be sure to be truthful and convey your honest opinion. Following the above tips will help you ensure you are writing a quality letter of recommendation!

 

Is Work Culture Important to You?

Work culture is a topic we’ve discussed a few times in some of our blogs. Work culture is the concept of your company’s values, beliefs, and attitudes – which ultimately influence the environment of your organization. Some of the most commonly used words to describe company culture are family-oriented, innovative, fun, relaxed, and inclusive. These words are all very positive and things that someone may want to see in their organization.  In today’s business climate, workplace culture is very important when searching for a job. If you’re spending 40 hours a week at an organization, you want to be sure you love the environment and that you align with the work culture. Continue reading below to learn how to find out if your workplace culture is right for you!

 

How to Tell If a Company’s Culture is Right for You

Define your values: A good way to see if you’re a match with the company’s culture is to define your core values. Outline your values and define what they mean to you. Values are necessary because they determine the way you live and work. A company’s values are crucial because they may dictate the way the organization is run. If your values align with the company’s, chances are they are a good match for you!

Talk with prospective colleagues: Get to know potential colleagues and check out their social media accounts like LinkedIn. Talking to them is a good way to see if your personalities will mesh. Figure out who your potential boss is and get to know them as well as you can. A big part of company culture is the people who work there, especially since you might be working closely with other people.

Ask questions: During your interview, do not be afraid to ask questions about the company’s work culture. Have the interviewer describe their culture and what they perceive it to be to get a picture from someone who is immersed in it daily. Some great questions to ask are “what’s your favorite and least favorite thing about working here?” and “does the team hang out after work hours?” These questions can help you understand how close-knit the employees might be.

Work culture is not something that is imperative to everyone, but the environment at work does affect employees and their performance. If the work environment is important to you, don’t accept a job offer without doing your research on their company culture. This can end up being a make it or break it decision.

In order to do all your research, make sure you read our other blog on work culture here!

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

Let’s Talk Resume Boosters!

As we move full-force into the new year, it’s time to update our resumes! For those who are in a job transition, job hunt, or soon to be college graduates- let’s discuss some ways to boost your resume. Your resume gives the hiring manager a first glimpse of who you are and what you have accomplished.  Adding role-specific or software certifications to your resume is one way to raise your value as a candidate.

Role-Specific Certifications

Online certifications are popping up everywhere and they are very accessible to everyone. Make sure you are taking the time to complete certifications that are tailored to your field of work. This will help ensure that your certification can make a difference on your resume. A recruiter might not take a second look if you are certified in something that is not applicable to your field. With the right research, you will be able to find a certification that is helpful for your job/role. To get started, a few role-specific certifications are listed below.

Software Certifications

Software certifications are very relevant in our world of technology. This certification can help any resume stand out, not just people in the field of IT. Careers like digital marketing, software engineering, data science, etc,  can all benefit from a software certification. Read below to find out more about these software certifications.

Google: Analytics, Publisher, AdWords

  • Google has plenty of free online certifications that you can complete. You simply make an account and start the certification courses. Google Analytics is especially useful for students who are going to be graduates soon and on the job hunt. Adding a certification like Google Analytics will show the hiring manager that you can analyze reports, track data collections, processing and configurations, and many more.

Salesforce: CRM certifications

  • Salesforce is a website that offers customer relationship management services. This can be useful in any career where you are directly working with other people- like sales, marketing, customer service, etc. Completing a Salesforce certification will help you to be well-versed in analytics.

Not all certifications are useful, in fact, some can be pointless to add to your resume. Do your research before completing a certification in order to know it will benefit your resume. Certifications can be time-consuming, but they can also be worth it. Your resume might stand out more to the hiring manager if you have appropriate certifications.

Working on your resume? Read here to find out what fonts to use!

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