Tag: Beacon Staffing
Tik Tok Tik Tok: How to Better Manage Your Time at Work
Technology has improved our lives in numerous ways. We are more connected than ever, from computers to phones to programs and networking services. That connection, and the increase in work that it allows for, has also made it more challenging to maintain balance in our lives and manage our time, especially at work. The workday never ends as you answer emails and complete reports from home. Factor in last-minute meetings, projects, and other home life demands, and you may need better time management.
Life happens, but you can handle what comes and reduce stress with the right time management skills. In this blog, we’ll discuss practical tips to help you manage your work time instead of letting it control you.
Tip #1: Create a Daily Schedule
You must have a solid to-do list to manage your work time properly. Don’t even try to start your day without this vital map being laid out. Ideally, you should write your to-do list the night before. Start with the most pressing tasks; these are the things that must be done first thing in the morning or must be completed that day. Then jot down secondary tasks, including projects in planning or assignments that have a more relaxed timeline.
Don’t overload your day. You must allow for last-minute meetings, revisions to previous assignments and projects, and emergency tasks. Your to-do list should be structured enough to manage your time effectively yet fluidly.
Group Similar Tasks Together
When you create your to-do list, try to group similar tasks together. For example, separate your day into chunks for answering emails, making phone calls, filing paperwork, etc. Turn off notifications for your phone and email to reduce distractions.
Tip #2: Evaluate Your Efficiency
This is an essential step for your overall time management; your boss can help you with it. Everyone has patterns of productivity. Some people work more efficiently in the morning, and some in the afternoon. Talk with your manager or supervisor and look at your productivity levels together. This will help you find when you are most productive and when to tackle more manageable tasks.
Tip #3: Avoid Over Socialization
Being a part of a positive workplace culture includes socializing with coworkers. Too much of a good thing can drain your energy and distract you from efficiently doing your work. Stick to standard socializing times, such as lunchtime or during a scheduled break, and avoid chatting when you should be working. Also, turn off notifications for social media apps and phone and text notifications to reduce potential distractions.
And don’t forget to reward yourself when these new time management techniques make a difference to your productivity! Reinforcing good habits will motivate you to maintain and develop your time management skills.
Maybe you want a new job altogether? Start your search with Beacon today!
Can I Return to a Former Job?
You may consider returning to your old job if you recently left your job or have been away for months or years. Perhaps you’ve had second thoughts about the grass being greener in another position, or the reasons you had for leaving in the past have been resolved somehow, or maybe you miss your former co-workers. Whatever the reason, if you want to return to your former job, you need to plan carefully.
Research and Reflect
Before attempting to go back to your old job, you need to consider two things:
- Is it possible to go back?
- Why do I want to go back?
Returning to an old job should be relatively easy if you left your position on good terms, provided the position is available. Reach out to former colleagues you trust to see if it is a good time to return and get any information you can to prepare your approach.
Once you have the information you need, take some time to reflect on why you want to go back and whether you are willing and able to commit to the position long-term. Be honest with yourself and address the issues and motivations that caused you to leave in the first place. Were there problems at work? Was the pay too low? Are the benefits too limited? Weigh all the pros and cons before you decide to move forward.
The Approach
Do your homework, especially if you’ve been away a while. Is your ex-boss still there, or is there someone new? If your ex-boss is still there, you may start by emailing them and letting them know you made a mistake and would like to come back. Don’t call on the phone as this puts them on the spot; email offers them time to reflect on the possibility and discuss it with others as necessary before replying.
If it’s a new boss, consider getting a recommendation from a former colleague. The new boss will readily see that you have a history with the company, and the recommendation tells them you are still well-regarded by former co-workers.
Update Your Resume, Cover Letter, and Professional Media
Your old job already knows your skills and education, how well you performed, and why you left. They need to see what you’ve learned and achieved since you’ve been gone and how you are a better asset to them than when you left. Highlight your best achievements and newest skills in your resume.
In the cover letter, everything comes together. Be somewhat formal and focus on how you are a more significant asset now than before. Direct their attention to the fact that you worked there before, but don’t dwell on it. Instead, be clear about why you want to come back.
Ensure that your professional sites, such as LinkedIn or your website, are consistent with the information in your CV and cover letters.
If you can’t get your old job back, work with Beacon Staffing for a new job!
How To Bounce Back From a Layoff
Millions of Americans face layoffs. Layoffs may result from various factors but are rarely expected and never fun. Experiencing a layoff isn’t the end, however. You can and will go on to have a great career once you get through this setback.
If you’re experiencing a layoff or want to be prepared if you ever face one, these tips may help you to bounce back:
Mourn Your Loss
Being laid off is a negative experience. You’ve lost your job, and like any loss, it is essential that you take time and cope with the loss. Stress, anxiety, depression, and anger are some of the emotions you may experience as you cope with your job loss. It is vital to work through these feelings before moving forward.
Prioritize Self-Care
Prioritize your physical and mental health during this time. Sleep well, practice good eating habits, exercise regularly, and stay in touch with friends and family. Taking care of yourself ensures you will get through this time in the healthiest way possible and prepare you to move forward when ready.
Assess Your Finances
Now that you do not have regular money, you must evaluate your finances and make essential spending choices. Go over your finances, including your last paycheck, any severance pay you receive, and unemployment compensation. Ensure you only spend money on your needs, such as rent, utilities, groceries, and bills.
Start Networking
Stay in touch with your coworkers and networking contacts, and try to connect with other industry peers and experts. Many open roles are filled because of networking, so don’t underestimate the importance of making and keeping those connections.
Update Your Resume and Skills
As you’re unemployed, look back at your time with the company and assess what accomplishments you can add to your resume. Prospective employers want candidates who can add value to their company, help them reach their business goals, and participate fully in their company culture. Show the hard and soft skills you have built and perfected with your former employer.
This is also an ideal time to take some skill-related classes. Sign up for workshops or courses at your local college or online to build your skills, strengthen your talent marketability, and keep your mind sharp and ready to move forward professionally.
Consider Part-Time Positions
Switching to part-time work may be a challenging choice, but it can be a great option to generate income and keep your skills in shape while you look for a full-time position. Part-time, temporary, and contract work are all viable options and, in some cases, could lead to a permanent position.
Work with a Recruiter
Staffing agencies offer insight and inside access to many companies and positions that might be difficult to access independently. Staffing agencies help you prepare for job opportunities, connecting you with the right ones and getting you back to work quickly and effectively.
Start your search for a new job today with the help of Beacon Staffing! Contact us today!
How To Talk To Your Team About the Elephant in the Room
Most people want to avoid conflict, waiting out discomfort or putting off difficult conversations rather than dealing with the issues. Sometimes this is because people don’t know how to have these conversations or fear a negative impact on their work environment and relationships. In reality, however, avoiding conflict may build resentment, and the conflict is never overcome.
As a manager, you know that talking about the “elephant” in the room is vital to maintain balance and positive growth within your team. But how should you approach it?
Shift Perspective
Our perspective often colors difficult conversations. When we’re hung up on our perspective, we may not be open to seeing other points of view or hearing alternative solutions. Try to set your point of view aside and approach the situation from their perspective. You may not fully understand, but it will help you appreciate what’s happening with them and where they are coming from.
Listen to Understand
We often think we’re good listeners, but listening to understand takes concerted effort. Listen intently to the other person, ask questions, and care about their answers. Active listening is the best way to help you find common ground and ultimately reach an equitable solution.
Take Care of Yourself, Too
Conflict is emotionally draining. Ensure you care for yourself while helping your team cope with workplace issues. If you feel your compassion and empathy dwindling, take a moment. Drink some water, get some fresh air, pause the conversation, and get a good night’s sleep. Conflict doesn’t need to be resolved right away. Take the time necessary to treat the situation and all involved with respect and intention.
Brainstorm Solutions Together
Even if you believe you have the right solution in mind, brainstorm solutions with all involved and come to a resolution together. Explore solutions and make every effort to reach an understanding. Whether you create a plan for resolution or walk away agreeing to disagree, you’ll all know that you did your best to resolve the conflict.
Handling conflict is always challenging. Whether the conflict is between employees or one you have with an employee yourself, learning how to have difficult conversations with an eye toward resolution is vital. With the guidelines above, you can find ways to have these conversations and make your workplace a more productive and peaceful environment for everyone.
Let Beacon Staffing help you find the right people to work with so conflict is barely an issue. Contact our team today to get started!
Commuting to Work? Optimize Your Experience
The majority of the world’s workers commute to work every day. In fact, the average American worker spends 25-30 minutes commuting to work every day. Even as companies implement more flexible scheduling and remote work options, commuting times show no signs of decreasing. Whether your commute to work is long or short, it can be tedious and stressful.
There are ways to make your commute more enjoyable, engaging, and productive. Here are some ways to optimize your daily commute experience:
Plan Out Your Day
If you don’t drive to work, your commute can be an excellent time to map out your day. Creating a to-do list helps you organize your day, prioritize tasks, and focus on getting things done. You can write down your to-do list on paper or use an app to create it. Keep your day plan realistic and doable.
Read (or Listen to) a Book
In our busy lives, it can be challenging to find time to read. Reading books is a great stress reliever, though. Reading also stimulates your mind, improves memory, expands your vocabulary, and boosts productivity. Carry a book with you if you ride public transportation or listen to an audiobook during your commute.
Listen to a Podcast
Another way to reduce stress and expand your mind is by listening to podcasts. Podcasts can be educational, inspirational, motivational, and entertaining. Thousands of podcasts are available, and you can easily find one or more to interest you.
Take a Class
If you’re pursuing a degree or want to enrich yourself and expand your skillset, taking an online based class is a great way to use your commuting time. Many programs feature recorded lectures and audio instructions, so you can easily listen and participate on your way to or from work.
Practice Mindfulness
Commuting is an ideal time to sit back and reflect productively. Focus on the present moment and slow your racing thoughts. Reflecting on yourself, how you’re doing, and what aspects of your life need change or improvement can boost your productivity and lift your spirits.
Commuting to work will always be necessary for most workers, but you can make the experience a positive one. Find ways to enrich yourself and change your perspective so that the time spent commuting to work is well spent.
Need a job with a short commute? Start your search with Beacon today!
How to Make Working Overtime Work for You
There is much negativity associated with overtime, frequently viewed as something you have to do rather than something you want to do. Depending on your job type, overtime may be a regular part of your role. But overtime can also be an opportunity, and many workers commit to overtime to gain greater flexibility in their schedule or earn more money.
How can you make overtime a favorable option that works for you? Read on for some helpful tips!
Whether you’re working overtime to earn extra money or hoping for a promotion or other recognition, these tips will help you stay focused and stress-free.
Tip #1: Review company policy on working overtime
Whether you work overtime voluntarily or not, carefully review the rules and guidelines for working overtime. Take the time to ask your Human Resources department questions if anything needs to be clarified. Understanding the company policy on compensation, scheduling, and limits will help prevent any issues.
Tip #2: Maintain a healthy work-life balance
Extra income is excellent, but not at the expense of your health and well-being. A healthy work-life balance should always be a priority, especially when working overtime. Avoid working overtime more than three days a week, so you have plenty of time to recharge and spend time with family and friends.
Tip #3: Stay productive
Working overtime means a lot of extra hours in your work week. It can be very easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated. Pace yourself and stay productive throughout your entire shift each day. This will help you avoid overload and stress so you can stay focused and on task.
Tip #4: Ask for recognition
If one of your goals is to receive a promotion or raise, let your manager know. The enthusiasm and dedication you exhibit working overtime can go a long way toward getting you that recognition, but not if your manager doesn’t know you want it. Be humble but honest and acknowledge your effort to contribute.
Working overtime can be an excellent opportunity to earn extra money and positively contribute to your workplace. With the proper preparation and mindset, you can make working overtime work for you on many levels.
If you think a new position is in your future, start your search with us today!
3 Tips Adapting a More Productive & Motivated Mindset for 2023
We all want to become the best version of ourselves, personally and professionally. Setting goals and making resolutions are always hot topics around the new year, and 2023 is no exception. If you’re looking to change your mindset, and become more creative, motivated, and productive, consider these three tips on how to adapt and implement a more positive mindset for 2023.
Get Organized
What to feel better about yourself every day AND get more done? List-making is an excellent way to get organized and stay motivated. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment whenever you cross a task off your “to-do” list. In addition, making a list that includes daily and weekly tasks allows you to focus on each task at hand without stressing about the bigger stuff. As more gets done and you enjoy the satisfaction of accomplishing them, you’ll feel more motivated and productive.
Get Active
We all know exercise helps you physically, but it also improves your attention and focus and boosts your mood. Adding exercise to your daily routine doesn’t mean you must do a major workout every day. Low-impact stretching, yoga, and even walking can refresh your mind and stimulate your creativity and productivity.
Practice Gratitude
Today’s high-tech society adds a great deal of anxiety and stress to our days. From the minute we awake, we are focused on our phones filled with emails, texts, and social media posts. This sets us up for a day filled with nervous, stressful feelings.
Make a change to your daily routine and let the phone wait. Instead, take some time when you awake to think of three things to be grateful for. These may be things you’re thankful for, or they may be things you’re looking forward to in the coming day. Starting the day with a grateful heart and mind fills you with positive feelings, such as contentment, joy, and peacefulness.
Meditation can be a powerful addition to your morning routine, allowing you to focus on positive thoughts and feelings and replace the negative voices that impede your motivation and stifle your creativity and productivity.
Each day is what we make it. Keeping these tips in mind will ensure that you step into 2023 with a more positive, motivated mindset and that you’re ready to make it the best, most productive year yet!
If you are set on a new job this year, start your search with Beacon Staffing!
How to Pull Yourself out of your Mid-Week Slump
We’ve all struggled to get through the workweek. The dreaded “mid-week slump” can suck your remaining energy with stress and discouragement, but it doesn’t have to. Read on for five easy tips to help you pull yourself out of your slump and beat the mid-week blahs.
Here’s how:
1. Start Something New
Starting something new in the middle of the week may seem counterproductive, but it’s a perfect time to switch gears and pursue something rewarding and exciting. Start a new hobby, indulge in self-care, try a new outfit, or start a new hobby to breathe new life into your week.
2. Get Outside & Get Active
Fresh air is essential to clear your mind and pull you out of a mid-week slump. Twenty minutes outside lifts your spirits and raises your body’s vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for metabolism and mood, and sunlight is the best source. If you live in northern climates where winter weather makes it difficult to get those healthy rays, a vitamin D supplement can help.
Daily exercise is also essential to reduce stress and boost the feel-good hormones called endorphins. Whether you lift weights, jog, kickbox, cycle, or take a walk, exercise can pull you out of a low mood in no time. In fact, exercise is so effective at lifting your mood that it can prevent a midweek slump in the first place!
3. Get Social
Even if you count many of your coworkers as friends, it is vital to make time for connections outside of work. After the extreme separation of the pandemic lockdown and social distancing, connecting with friends and family is more important than ever. If you are slumping in the middle of your work week, plan to see or talk with friends and family. Whether on the phone, online or in person, connecting with loved ones benefits your mental and overall health.
4. Clear the Clutter
Cleaning up and getting organized can quickly turn your mood around. The presence of clutter in your home or office can contribute to various mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, stress, and even feelings of worthlessness. A solid decluttering session can free up space, and free your mind, too.
5. Treat Each New Day as a Fresh Start
It may be the middle of the week, but every day is a new day. Even if the beginning of the week drained your batteries, you can still recharge and tackle the rest of the week with energy and intention. No matter how bad the day may be, look to the next day and commit to moving forward toward your daily, weekly, and overall goals.
Maybe it’s time to look for a new job?
Start your search with Beacon Staffing!
Feeling Lost? Why You Should Consider Working with a Staffing Agency in 2023
As 2022 comes to an end, you may be taking the time to reflect on your life, especially your career. The past few years have compelled many to look at where they are in life and decide which direction they want to go. Stay in your current role or transform your professional life with a new career?
If you’re considering completely changing your professional life in 2023 but are nervous about the logistics of finding a new job and everything that goes with that, you may benefit from working with a staffing agency. If you’ve ever considered it or are simply curious, consider these tips.
Level Up First
As you’re reflecting on your professional and career goals in the short and long term, write everything down. Take note of your priorities, interests, skills, and goals. Does your dream job require more education or experience than you have?
Working with a staffing agency can help you through this process. A staffing agency recruiter will evaluate your skills and training for their records and can recommend courses or programs to help you solidify your creditability and presence on the job market.
Staffing agencies can also help high-quality jobs find you. Companies like Beacon Staffing understand the locale and circumstances that are uniquely yours. They can help you find a satisfying position that meets your needs.
Determine Your Ideal Job
What you want to do is just the beginning. When it comes to searching for a new job, there are many aspects to consider. Staffing agencies are uniquely qualified to offer a wide variety of jobs in diverse industries. Whether you want full-time or part-time work, temporary positions, direct hire roles, or even work-from-home/ remote options, a staffing firm can provide options and help you satisfy your job needs.
Staffing firms are especially valuable if you’re interested in using your unique skills in a new industry. Your recruiter can present you to the prospective employer, explaining your skills and experience beyond your resume.
Career Feedback
Staffing agencies take the time to get to know their candidates and to guide them on the road to their ideal job. They help you polish your resume, prep for interview questions, and can even offer suggestions on what to wear for your interview to make the best impression.
If you don’t get the job you applied for, your recruiter we’ll let you know why and provide valuable feedback that will help you succeed in landing a future job.
Ready to land that dream job?
We can help! Contact Beacon Staffing today!
Workplace Trends We Expect to see in 2023
As we head into 2023, we have seen workplaces shift heavily to remote and hybrid work. Inflation, layoffs, and the potential for a recession are driving many employees to ask for promotions or raises. Some have even looked for new positions with higher salaries to help them support their homes and families.
For managers, the focus has been on recruiting top talent and retaining them in these troubling times. Looking forward to 2023, we can expect to see several workplace trends impacting business operations. Let’s look at the top five.
Workers Have the Upper Hand
Employers vying for high-quality talent are likely to continue as the job market remains tight. Candidates understand their worth in this market and are not afraid to demand higher pay, better perks, and benefits, and flexible work options. The demand for high-quality talent is also high, and well-trained 2023 graduates will enter a job market with plenty of opportunities.
Focus on Mental Health
Employee well-being has been a major issue in the workplace for years. Even before the pandemic, many employees complained of burnout and feeling miserable at work. With the current economic outlook, employee health, especially mental health, is predicted to continue its decline.
To combat that, employers are looking at even more ways to support the mental health of their employees and prevent burnout.
The pandemic played a major role in stimulating and shaping workplace trends for 2022 and that trend will continue into 2023 and beyond. Many companies are embracing these changes, putting their employees first and attracting the best talent while doing so.
Need to expand your team to accomplish your 2023 business plans?
Beacon Staffing can help you find the top-quality talent you’re looking for. Contact us today!
