Nothing is more frustrating than applying for a job, nailing the interview, and then…waiting. And waiting. And hearing nothing. After a few weeks, you might start to feel that radio silence is the sound of a door closing. And if you were excited about the job, this can be particularly demoralizing. But sometimes there’s a very good reason no one has followed up – even if it’s not the reason you were hoping for. Here are three reasons you may not have heard back from the hiring manager:

1. They chose another candidate

You were qualified (after all, you were given the chance to interview), but someone else was more qualified. Or maybe they were a better culture fit. A recruiter or hiring manager likely has the best intentions on shooting you a quick email or phone call to follow up post-interview, it just doesn’t always happen. One thing that can’t hurt is to follow up with your interviewer to thank them for their time, reiterate your interest in the role, and provide them with your contact information. That way, it reminds them that you’re waiting for an answer either way.

2. Multiple decision makers

Sometimes, especially for higher-level management roles, multiple people in an organization need to meet with and approve candidates before an official offer is made. This can result in multiple internal meetings to discuss candidates, and even more than one interview. The more people who are involved, the harder it can be to work around conflicting schedules which can prolong the process. Again, the hiring manager is ideally keeping in touch and communicating throughout the process, but it may not always happen.

3. Just clearing up the details

Sometimes you’re the candidate of choice, but they’re still ironing out the details of your hire. How much can they offer you? What will your benefits package look like? Or maybe they’re still deciding how to proceed for the final round of interviews. Depending on the job you’ve interviewed for, they might be generating a take-home assignment for you to work on to distinguish you from another leading candidate.

For more helpful information on jobs, careers, and everything in between, visit our blog!

We understand that job searches can be frustrating! Depending on the job market and your target industry, it might take some time before you find exactly what you’re looking for. In the meantime, why not consider taking a temporary position? Here are six reasons why a temp job is a great idea.

Staffing agencies have good jobs to fill

Employers are looking for temporary or part-time workers to fill voids in their companies. Staffing agencies are more adept at knowing those types of openings, so it helps if you contact a staffing coordinator that can match you with the style of work you’d like to do with the skills you already have.

Cash in your pocket

The longer you go without work, the more bills and expenses will pile up. A temporary gig will help keep your bills paid, and is also a great way to prevent you from having to explain a lengthy gap on your resume during any future interviews. Think about it: hiring managers and future bosses will be impressed you were willing to stay employed at the same time you worked hard to find a full-time job.

You stay motivated

One of the hardest and perhaps most underrated parts of searching for work is the sense of restlessness and hopelessness you might feel. Employment helps to break that cycle. You keep your momentum going, and you add stability, routine and a sense of purpose to your life.

You try out a variety of skills

It’s great if you can temp in your ideal industry! Think of all the new skills and responsibilities you’re exposing yourself to! Most of these skills might be transferable to different fields, but if not, your diverse experience will be really impressive to your future employers. Or at least, great conversation topics.

They’re a great way to network

You never know who you might meet in the context of your temporary job. Maybe you meet a hiring manager at another company, or a co-worker refers you to a cousin who’s about to launch a startup and is looking to hire. If nothing else, you’ll leave with some solid references from individuals who were impressed by your diligence and enthusiasm.

They can lead to permanent positions

Your goal should be to make yourself indispensable to your temporary co-workers with a positive, eager attitude and the willingness to take on additional responsibilities. Most companies even use temp positions as a way to test out potential employees, so put your best foot forward so you can earn that long-term full-time job you’ve been looking for!

For more information on how to land your dream job, check out our blog at https://www.wsitalent.com/category/blog/

Congratulations on your new job! You can never be too prepared for your first day; the better prepared you are, the more comfortable and composed you’ll be. Here are four ways to prepare for your new job.

 

Be on time

In fact, be early. Fifteen to thirty minutes early. This gives you a cushion in case traffic is worse than you expected. Or you spill orange juice down your shirt 2 minutes before you leave the house. Or something else unforeseen happens to make you late. But if you plan for it, you’ll still be on time! And if you’re early, then you have a few extra minutes to compose yourself—calm, cool, collected—before the day begins.

Get to know your co-workers

You’re about to spend a lot of time with these people, so get to know them! You’ll surely be bombarded with lots of introductions, so be ready with a few sentences explaining who you are, where you’re from and what your new job is. Repeat people’s names to yourself as you meet them so you don’t forget them. Say “yes” if someone offers to take you to lunch, especially if it’s your boss—this is great bonding time!

Pay attention

Here’s where your listening and observing skills come in to play. Learn exactly what your responsibilities are, both written and verbal. Your co-workers can teach you those unwritten workplace rules, what the best forms of communication are, and what’s appropriate and what’s not.

Show your full potential

Show you’re a hard worker, good listener, and are eager to get the job done right. Remember that people are observing you, so demonstrate your enthusiasm and your positive attitude.

For more information on job searching and employment and everything in between, check out our blog: https://www.wsitalent.com/category/blog/

So you’ve landed your first “big girl” or “big-boy” job – congratulations! Exploring the details of your benefits package is one of the most adult things you can do, so air-five: you’re #adulting! But do you know how to navigate your benefits package? The type of benefits you receive probably depends on the size of your company. There are a few benefits that are pretty standard across the board no matter who you work for, and then there are some extras you may or may not want depending on your situation. Most employers understand the better benefits they offer, the happier employees will be! Here’s a breakdown of common benefits.

Health insurance

If you work for the government or a large company, you’ll likely receive a better benefits package than your startup-employed friends. However, health insurance is usually pretty standard. Some health insurance plans even include all forms of wellness programs, from weight loss management to exercise to stress relief to substance abuse issues. Adult tip: pay attention to deductibles (how much you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in), co-pays, and in-network providers vs. out-of-network as these can vary widely from plan to plan.

Paid time off 

These typically include sick days, vacation days, holidays, personal days, volunteer days, and bereavement leave. Some employers are just using the all-encompassing term “paid time off” to let their employees decide how to use their time away from work. Adult tip: it can vary by company how many hours new employees start off with, so be sure to know if your paid time off is accrued by the total number of hours worked or given in one lump sum at the beginning of each year. Also, know whether sick time is offered in addition to vacation time or if they’re all lumped in together.

Disability insurance

There are two types of disability insurance, and both are pretty expensive for companies to provide. Short-term disability insurance guarantees an employee will receive a percentage of income if they can’t work due to an injury or illness. Long-term disability insurance provides the same protection if you can’t work for a longer period of time, generally three to six months, and usually cuts off after a defined number of years. Typically, 50-70 percent of your salary is covered. These are good benefits to have because you never know what life will throw at you (or that neighbor baseball prodigy kid with a killer arm)! Adult tip: if these insurances are offered by your new employer, be sure to know if one (or both) are offered at no charge to you or if you need to pay toward the premium yourself.

Dental and vision insurance

Dental plans are more common and usually include both preventative check-ups and emergency procedures—like those pesky root canals. But vision plans are important to a lot of people, too—especially if you’re the type that frequently misplaces your glasses. Adult tip: as with medical insurance, pay attention to deductibles, co-pays, and in-network providers vs. out-of-network as these can vary widely from plan to plan.

Life insurance

Most employees expect a life insurance policy to be included in a benefits package, particularly if they have a family. You hope you never have to use it, but it’s good to have just in case the unthinkable happens.Many companies offer life insurance coverage that equals 1X or 2X your annual salary at no cost to you – but is it enough to help cover expenses if you were to die tomorrow?  Adult tip: if your employer offers optional additional life insurance, it’s usually very affordable and only costs a few extra dollars each pay period. Well worth the peace of mind, no?

Retirement plan

Most employers will offer and contribute to a 401K or an IRA. Some will even set up a pension plan, meaning they’ll pay for your retirement and it won’t be dependent on the ups and downs of the stock market. Pensions are expensive for companies to fund, though, so they’re increasingly rare (if your new employer offers one – pat yourself on the back and take advantage of it!) Many employers provide a company match up to a certain percentage, which is basically extra free money toward your retirement. Adult tip: Familiarize yourself with the employer match (if any), and if possible, contribute at least as much as they match. Many retirement plans also offer tools on their website to help you forecast different contribution scenarios.

Healthcare flexible spending accounts (FSA)

These accounts are becoming more common as out-of-pocket costs go up. They allow the employee to determine how to allocate money towards co-payments, deductibles, and other healthcare costs. You can choose how much money to deduct from each paycheck (pre-tax) to be put in your FSA, which can then be used to pay for the aforementioned qualified medical expenses. Probably not something you think about if you’re single and healthy, but an FSA is a big deal if you have health concerns or a dependent family member with a health issue. Adult tip: If you have a health insurance deductible, it’s wise to consider setting a weekly FSA deduction to cover the deductible amount.

 

Changing jobs is tough, but social media is a great way to find jobs and connect with hiring professionals. You can alert people of your search, sift through hundreds of postings, and access more advice. Here are some tips to make sure you’re using Facebook Jobs, Indeed, and Google effectively while job-hunting.

Use Facebook to Spread The Word

Let people know you’re looking for a job! Most people have several hundred “friends” on Facebook, so ask them for help. Go ahead and say, “I’m looking for new opportunities!” Be specific and tell them what type of job you’re looking for. Even if your friends don’t know of any positions available right now, your name will come to mind when an opening pops up.

And if you’re worried about your current boss finding out that you’re job seeking, don’t make it a public post. Instead, private message people you know might be able to help out. Make sure your profile is updated and describes what you do so that anyone can check and get a mini-preview of what your resume might look like. And although you can always adjust your privacy settings, be careful that you’re not broadcasting things you wouldn’t want a hiring manager to see.

Facebook Jobs

Any company with a Facebook page can now publish a job posting just as they would any type of status update, and here at WSI we’ve seen a lot of activity by doing so. The post will appear under the “jobs” section, which you can link to from the left-hand menu on our homepage.

 

As you scroll through, you can quickly click “apply now” when you see something you like. Before you send the application that includes your name and any work and education history, you can edit the information and add a short cover letter if you like.

Indeed

Indeed.com collects jobs from employer sites, job boards, newspaper websites, and other online classifieds and sorts them into a giant database. Its search capabilities are powerful enough that you can find exactly what you want, even search specific job titles or specific employer at the same time you’re searching for a preferred location, even by zip code. And if you’re not that picky, you can also search something broader, like “part-time bookkeeper” or “maintain confidential records.” WSI lists many of their current roles on Indeed, and you can even sign up for alerts whenever we post a new one. 

Google Job Search

New to the job search landscape is Google, where you can simply type what kind of job you’re looking for in their search bar. Google serves as an aggregate job search listing, meaning they scour the internet and pull results from multiple websites, including company pages, staffing and recruiters, and job sites like Indeed and LinkedIn. Before you search for jobs on Google, you need to know the job you want and make sure you’re searching the most commonly used job title. Likewise, search the specific location and other qualifying descriptions. The more precise and accurate your search, the better matched your results will be. Here, we searched “factory jobs Kalamazoo” and this is what showed up:

WSI

Shameless plug; of course we had to list our own website! Our job listings are updated constantly, and the advantage of applying directly from our site is being able to create an account with all of your information so that WSI staffing coordinators receive an automatic alert whenever your perfect job match appears.

Reviews are helpful…until they’re not

As you do your due diligence and research companies on Google, Facebook, Glassdoor, or Indeed, a high rating is important and helps separate the best from the rest. Read the feedback carefully and pay attention to what themes emerge. If you read positive review after positive review, then they’re probably a pretty accurate reflection of the company. While no company is 100% perfect (we are human, after all!) and negative experiences are par for the course for any organization, it’s worth noting that a disgruntled employee might be just that—someone angry about some grievance, real or imagined. A good rule of thumb is if the majority of reviews are positive, then you’ve probably found yourself a pretty solid company.

 

Employers ask for resumes because they want to review your work history, so it’s important to get it right. In general, keep the layout consistent and easy to read. Show your potential employers that you pay attention to detail. Don’t use first person, and use present tense for your current job but past tense for previous jobs. Here are five other guidelines to show off your experience on your resume.

It should tell a story

Whatever you call it—work experience, employment history—it should be the first section on your resume and should be a highlight reel of your best accomplishments. Start with your current job and list everything in reverse chronological order. Under each job, summarize your responsibilities and achievements. Six bullet points per job is plenty, remember that you don’t want your resume to exceed two pages.

It should be relevant

Experience is important, but you don’t need to show your entire work history. Jobs have changed so much that experience more than ten years old is irrelevant. If you stretch too far back, you risk seeming ancient, which means you might not be up-to-date with the latest technology. So brag about your technological aptitude and make sure your language is current.

No need to include jobs in high school or those random filler jobs you had unless it leaves huge holes in your resume.

Keep a master list

Keep a master list of all jobs you’ve had so that when you’re tailoring your resume you can pick and choose accordingly. The list should include every job—full time, part time, temp positions, internships, work studies, self-employment, and independent projects. For each one, include your duties and achievements. You won’t include all that on the resume you circulate, but this is a resource for your memory.

Highlight your accomplishments

Emphasize your accomplishments, not years of experience. Think about when you’ve impacted revenue, minimized costs, won an award or received a promotion. Use action verbs and quantifying points—brag about the fact that you helped the company cut back manufacturing time by 30% or that you supervised a team of twelve people. Numbers attract attention, so use them whenever you can. If possible, repeat phrases and language from the description of the job you’re applying for.

If you lack experience

If you lack serious experience because you’re a student or you’re new to the workforce, you can list volunteer positions, roles in student organizations, or group projects. Label it “other experience” because it’s not really professional experience.

For more information on how to use your resume to drive your career, contact us today!

Obtaining a management position is all about attitude and willingness to do more than what’s in your job description. Managers handle external relationships, budgets, contracts, negotiations, goal-setting, difficult conversations, and managing teams. Aside from being a master of communication, you need to be the one going above and beyond to move up. Here are a few critical tips to make sure you reach a management role.

Make a development plan

Managers need to be great planners anyway, so let the practice begin! Find out what managers do, watch the ones around you closely, and ask questions. Read books on leadership and management and research management job descriptions. Know what requirements your company looks for and what gaps you have on your resume. Is there any additional training you need?

Develop people skills

Learn how people think, react, and function when challenged or incentivized with rewards or other outside forces. Respect people and learn how to work with them, not forcing them to do things.

Look to impress

Work with your manager to identify areas where you can expand your responsibilities. Be on the lookout for projects and tasks that will get you noticed by higher-ups in other parts of the company. Management is best learned by doing, so start taking on small management opportunities whenever you can.

Show initiative

Volunteer to help your boss in any way you can without letting your current job suffer. Be a problem solver. Be proactive and express interest in a management role. Even if you don’t get it right away, they can at least keep you in mind the next time a position opens up.

Understand the whole company

Don’t limit what you know and do to simplify your role. Volunteer to help your boss prepare the budget or collect necessary information. Offer to help so you can learn what other departments do, what could be done more efficiently, and about the company’s overall health. The more you know and understand how the company functions, the better prepared you’ll be to make decisions about it—or at least answer questions about it in an interview!

Tailor your resume

You might need to completely rewrite your resume to tailor it to a role with additional responsibilities. Highlight your professional training, qualifications, and achievements. Include instances where your role has been expanded into additional responsibilities. Use numbers whenever possible to quantify your achievements

Nail your interview

Show off your communication and people skills with handshakes, smiles, and professional, considerate responses! Managers have to be experienced, so you’ll probably be asked about past situations. Expect questions about when you’ve delegated work, made unpopular decisions and managed people, projects, or budgets.

Looking for management roles? Contact our professional recruiting team today!

Soft skills help you land a job! They’re hard to measure and can’t be listed on a resume, but they usually show up—or don’t—in an interview. These are the skills that help you develop relationships with co-workers and customers, and can set you apart when it’s time for promotion. The truth is a lot of employers care more about your ability to communicate, work with others, think on your feet and work hard than qualifications and experience. Skills and licensures can be taught, but attitude cannot!

Communication

Express yourself clearly in both oral and written communication. You can handle emails, phone calls and in-person interviews in a kind and professional manner, but also know which method you’re most comfortable with. In person, use eye contact, a firm handshake, speak up and exude just the right amount of confidence to show you take pride in your work without seeming arrogant.

With communication comes effective conflict resolution. It’s key to developing relationships with peers and managers to maintain a healthy, collaborative workplace. It’s also a sign of maturity and good leadership.

Critical thinking

Companies are looking for someone who can solve problems, take action and think on his feet. Convey that you know how to be part of the solution, without adding to a problem. One way to show off your good judgment is simply to show up to the interview on time and wearing appropriate attire.

Collaboration

Your company’s success depends on everyone blending their talents and working together for a common goal. Show you’re flexible and open to new ideas and approaches. Welcome suggestions and mention that you appreciate the importance of diversity in the workplace.

Creativity

A positive attitude is really important to hiring managers because it’s contagious in the workplace. Express that you’re willing to accept challenges and handle obstacles gracefully. Instead of getting frustrated or complaining, you should be able to find alternate solutions to rapid, unavoidable changes and help your colleagues adjust.

Work ethic

A strong work ethic is part of your character and not always something a manager can train you to have. Show that you have a history of being productive, reliable, diligent, proactive, always looking for more efficient opportunities. Research the company’s mission and values, and mention them with reverence during the interview to demonstrate that you’ll be loyal to them.

For more information on how to land your dream job, contact us today!

The best positions in 2018 will be jobs that still aren’t automated, They’re for highly skilled workers and require people to really be experts in their fields. They’re likely to continue being resistant to automation, providing good income and future prospects for many years.

Machine Operators

Machine operators, or machinists, work with heavy machinery—either setting it up or actually operating it. They use computers to control the equipment and make sure they’re working well and well-maintained. Certification is sometimes required, but you at least need some vocational school or community college, an apprenticeship, and some on the job training. Machine operators need to have math and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and some analytical skills to read blueprints, schematics, and CAD/CAM technology. The broader your training is and the more diverse your skills are, the more employable you’ll be—especially if you’re comfortable with technology and computers.

Welders

Welding and ironworking jobs are expected to increase more and more by 2024. They require apprenticeships and specialized training and sometimes a two-year or technical degree. But they earn an average of more than $50,000 per year.

Masons

Mason construction jobs are booming, and brickmasons and blockmasons also earn an average of more than $50,000 per year. Technical degrees and apprenticeship experience will bump that salary up even more. Cement mason and concrete finishers generally earn a little less, but technical degrees usually aren’t required—just an apprenticeship and some specialized training.

Plumbers

Not only do plumbers fix the pipes and gift us with flush toilets, but they also have to be experts in natural gas fittings. Thank your plumbers! They keep us clean and warm and those positions are always in demand. Plumbers need to be detail-oriented, and be licensed and apprenticed.

Electricians

Electricians have long apprenticeships and also require licensures, but they’re always needed, especially as our world becomes more and more digitalized. We can all live without lights for a few hours, but could we really survive without Wi-Fi? Electricians need to be able to read blueprints, install and repair wiring, and diagnose problems.

Related to electricians are more specialized positions such as elevator repairmen and HVAC technicians. These people, who install and repair heating and cooling units, generally need two years in trade school and then an apprenticeship.

Heavy equipment operator

The demand for operating engineers is expected to continue to grow. Since this equipment is dangerous to operate, workers will need extensive training, which is usually provided by the employer, for each different machine. But the pay is decent and the experience and expertise is valuable!

Carpenters

Most carpenters find work in residential building jobs, but there are always commercial and industrial sites that need workers, too, as building never seems to stop! Demand is especially high in areas that have been ravaged by natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires. The more technical education and apprenticeships carpenters have under their belts, the greater their pay will be.

Drivers and Warehouse Associates

Even as many jobs are becoming automated, freight still needs to travel from one place to another, so jobs that involve handling freight and stock to and from warehouses or retailers are still expected to increase in the coming year.  

Are you on the right track for 2018? We can help! Contact us today, to see what roles we have available that can help get you on the right path.