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Tips for Success – How to Dress for an Interview

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Your interview attire speaks volumes before you shake hands and introduce yourself.  To make the best first impression, it is advisable to preplan your outfit before your interview. Research the company and its atmosphere, in addition to the position in which you are applying for, and always be sure that you ask your representative which dress code your prospective workplace follows.

Considering every workplace is different, we’ve provided some common tips and examples that are universally effective.  Generally, attire requirements fall into two categories which are Corporate and Business Casual.

Corporate Attire

  • Full matching suit
  • Dress with a jacket or knee-length skirt, blouse and jacket
  • Grey, dark blue, or black pants with a jacket
  • Tie (you can always take this off if it turns out it is not required)
  • Closed-toe dark shoes, with matching socks
  • Simple hair, minimum perfume/cologne

 

Business Casual

  • Button down shirt/blouse (long or short sleeve)
  • Pants or slacks
  • Sport coat, blazer, or sweater
  • Medium-length skirt or dress, with or without a jacket

 

Do’s and Don’ts

  • Do ensure that your attire is neat and wrinkle free
  • Do ensure that you are wearing comfortable shoes where you are able to walk around in case you are shown around the office or site location
  • Do not wear jeans, leggings, sweatpants, animal prints or yoga pants
  • Do not wear sandals, or bright colored shoes

 

Dressing for success does not mean that you have to leave your personal style at home. There are plenty of ways to reflect your personality while wearing proper interview attire. Remember you are dressing for the career you want, and the first impression is always the last impression.  Happy interviewing!

The TemPositions Group of Companies Contributes to Services for the UnderServed’s Backpack Drive

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NEW YORK, November 15th, 2018 – The TemPositions Group of Companies announced today its contribution of a year’s supply of backpacks, binders, notebooks, pencils, and more to families served by Services for the UnderServed (S:US), one of New York City’s largest social service and housing organizations.

“There is nothing more rewarding than being able to make a difference in the life of a child in need,” TemPositions Director of Strategic Accounts Roger Oliver said. “It was doubly rewarding to have the opportunity to see them and meet them as they received their new backpacks and school supplies.”

Even a month after receiving this generous donation, kids are still ecstatic about their gift. “You could see the excitement on each child’s face when they received their new backpacks full of school supplies. One little girl opened her bag right away and excitedly asked, ‘Is this all for me?’” said Porscha Flores, Assistant Program Director at Services for the UnderServed. “We could sense the gratitude and relief from the parents as well, who, for days after the drive, continued to express their thanks.”

Many of the families served by S:US have experienced homelessness and poverty. S:US provides housing and supports to help families rebuild, find stability, and thrive.

The school year can be a busy and stressful time, especially for families beginning a new chapter after homelessness. Help with essentials like school supplies, which provide financial relief to families, also help children begin the school year with confidence and the tools they need to succeed.

As the leading provider of temporary, direct hire, and temp-to-hire staff in the New York tri-state area, TemPositions works with a variety of organizations to help them expand, adapt, and more effectively pursue their missions.

About Services for the UnderServed

Services for the UnderServed (S:US) drives scalable solutions to transform the lives of people with disabilities, people in poverty, and people facing homelessness: solutions that contribute to righting societal imbalances. By delivering high quality services that address the complex circumstances of each person, S:US transforms lives, improves neighborhoods, and boosts future generations. www.sus.org.

 

About TemPositions

Since 1962, TemPositions has built an award-winning reputation for unprecedented service to both employees and clients. Multiple specialized divisions offer applicants a wide range of assignments in fields including administration, IT, light industrial, legal, accounting, human resources, design, hospitality, health care and teaching. www.tempositions.com

 

Interested in learning more about how TemPositions serves the non-profit community?

Contact us below:

 

 

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How Millennials Are Changing The Way We View Leadership

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Originally Published on Forbes

By Ashira Prossack

How Millennials Are Changing The Way We View Leadership

In less than two years, Millennials will become the largest employee demographic. They’ve already become a major influence shaping the future of work, and as 10,000 Baby Boomers reach retirement age every day, they’re quickly advancing in the leadership ranks as well.

How will leadership change with this new generation taking the helm?

The most notable change will be the way we approach and view leadership. Authoritarian leadership is out, and inclusive leadership is in. The emerging trend in leadership is a manager who directs, not commands. Long gone are the days when the boss can hold the role of a dictator, disconnected from the employees sitting somewhere in a corner office. Millennials even prefer the term leader rather than boss.

Millennials also want direct connections with leadership teams, from their reporting manager all the way up to the C-Suite. They believe that everyone in the company should be accessible, regardless of title or seniority. This more linear method of leadership goes a long way in building trust, loyalty, and dedication in Millennial employees.

As leaders themselves, they place a high value on open workplaces with less emphasis on company hierarchy. They strive to create inclusive workplaces where everyone has an opportunity to share their voice, regardless of position or title. In this same regard, Millennial leadership is highly collaborative. They consult with managers, peers, mentors, and other advisors before making decisions. With their networks always at the tips of their fingers, they can quickly consult with their trusted circle of advisors or crowd source an answer to a question.

How can companies help Millennials grow as leaders?

The best way to help Millennials grow as leaders, whether they’re in a management position already or simply on the path to one, is to teach them as much as possible. Almost any situation can be turned into a learning opportunity. Give them the chance to lead – start small, and if they prove they can handle the responsibility, give them more. Millennials need more direction than previous generations, but given the right support they can become the most valuable employees to any company.

To successfully manage and lead Millennials, a sense of transparency is crucial. It’s not about giving them the keys to the castle that they haven’t yet earned, it’s about showing them the steps to take to get those keys. Give them measurable goals and hold them responsible for achieving them. Providing Millennials with something to work towards helps them understand how their role plays into the bigger picture. They want to know that their work matters.

Another challenge is keeping Millennials at one company long enough to invest in their leadership training. They tend to view jobs as places to learn and grow and seek out opportunities rather than longevity. One way to get them to start thinking longer term is to provide them with opportunities to learn within the company. Reverse mentoring is a great way to get them engaged, where they can lend their expertise to an older employee in return for invaluable lessons and expert advice. Not only does it help Millennials to start to hone their leadership skills, it provides them with a role model and trusted advisor who they can turn to.

Now here’s the thing – Millennials are a bit of a contradiction! They crave both independence and instruction, although they’re not always forthcoming about voicing their need for the latter. They want to impress their managers, so they don’t always ask for help when they need it for fear that they’ll be viewed as being unqualified. The key is finding the balance between giving them instruction and letting them figure things out on their own. One thing is for sure, Millennials are always up for a challenge. When they feel trusted and know they have the support of the leadership team, they’ll often outperform expectations.

At the heart of it, leadership is becoming more human. We’re starting to see trends in people first leadership and companies are now striving for more diverse and inclusive workplaces. Millennials refuse to be a statistic – a worker who comes in, does their job and leaves, and they’re taking this philosophy with them as they become leaders.  They are changing the way we approach work for the better.

Ashira helps companies understand, engage, attract, and retain Millennial and Gen Z talent, and coaches the next generation of talent to build business and leadership skills. As a Millennial herself, Ashira offers companies an inside perspective into what motivates and engages Millennials and Gen Z at work. She’s known as a Generational Translator for her ability to break down generational barriers and demystify Millennials and Gen Z.

Ashira Prossack is a Millennial & Gen Z engagement expert and speaker working to bridge the gap between generations and prepare businesses for the future of work.

 

Interested in attracting millennial talent to your organization?

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Jim Essey Inducted Into the Staffing 100 “Hall of Fame.”

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After being named to the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) Staffing 100 list five times, SIA has named Jim Essey to its Hall of Fame. Only 39 Staffing Industry Executives have ever been named to this list.

About the Staffing 100 Hall of Fame

When Staffing Industry Analysts “Staffing 100 list” was created in 2011, it was to honor a group that found people jobs, and even accelerated the process of finding a job. This unranked list was a call-out to those influential leaders.  Several years later, it was discovered that there are a group of people who made the list each consecutive year. The Staffing Industry Analysts wanted to give that group, who have made a lasting impact on the world of work, taking the staffing industry to great heights as exhibited by their illustrious careers, special recognition. Thus, the Staffing 100 Hall of Fame was born.

What makes these people stand out to their peers and the ecosystem? Here are a few commonalities:

  • Pursuit of Excellence: This group works hard every day trying to raise standards for the people in their companies, the talent, and customers. It’s about learning, innovating and being able to put new ideas into practice.
  • Empower Others: It’s more than the bottom line. It’s about inspiring their teams and their clients to take those steps that can help others. It’s about finding the right solutions for the right group, be it a program, a job or technology.
  • Persistence: The workforce solutions ecosystem is a dynamic ever-evolving environment. The path to success is just arduous, it keeps changing. Mergers, acquisitions, needs of the customer, innovation, new models all go to creating a vibrant but changing space.
  • Integrity: Being ethical is essential to the image and success of this industry, and it inspires others to do likewise.
  • Strong Leader: As seen from this list, these professionals are industry leaders using their experience and knowledge to elevate the industry.

To view the entire list of inductees for the Staffing 100 Hall of Fame click here.

 

About Jim Essey

Since joining the TemPositions Group of Companies in 1985, Jim has focused the firm on developing a number of niche businesses, heading each with industry experts. Through his efforts, TemPositions has become one of the nation’s largest regional staffing firms, and one of the true full-service staffing companies in the market today.

Jim sits on the boards of the American Staffing Association, the New York Staffing Association, and the American Brain Foundation. He has also been elected Chairman of the American Staffing Association (ASA); has served as Chair of the National Chapter Leadership Council and President of the New York Staffing Associate (NYSA), and currently serves as Chair of the ASA Legal/Legislative Committee.

Jim holds a BA from Trinity College (Hartford, CT), a General Course degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an MBA from Harvard University.

To learn more about Jim Essey and The TemPositions Group of Companies, click here.

 

 

Tips for an Awesome Skype Interview

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The rise of technology has added a new element to the job search: Skype interviews. While in-person interviews are preferred, Skype interviews increasingly grow more common. According to ERE.net, 80% of companies with more than 10,000 employees use video interviews, and for good reason. Skype interviews make things easy. They enable job seekers to cut down on travel and allow interviewers to save time. While video interviews may seem more relaxed, as you can conference within the comfort of your own home, they should be taken seriously. An interview, after all, is your one chance to demonstrate your skills to an employer. You may only get this one opportunity, so you need to make it count.

Tips for an Awesome Skype Interview

Connection
Live video uses a large amount of data at one time. As a result, Skype lags often, making it difficult to communicate with the interviewer. To fix this problem, find a place with an excellent WIFI connection. While Starbucks has free WIFI, it won’t cut it for this interview. Stay at home, and invest in a premium wireless router.

Camera
As the idea of a video interview is for the interviewer to see your face, you should ensure that your camera is high resolution. Resolution is the amount of detail able to be processed by a camera. In other words, the higher the camera resolution, the better your interviewer will be able to see you. High resolution cameras are 720p and greater. Thus, if your laptop’s built-in camera is less than 720p, consider investing in a high-resolution webcam.

 

Lighting
To further improve your image, select a space, for your interview, with an abundance of natural light. Ensure the light is direct, angled toward your face, rather than the sides or the back of your head. Light from the background will cause your face to blur, whereas a direct angling will highlight and sharpen your facial features.

Professional Attire
Assuming only your upper body will be on display, during your Skype interview, you may be tempted to wear your favorite sweatpants. Resist this urge, and instead dawn professional attire from head to toe. You may need to rise at some point during your interview to gather a paper or to fix your equipment. What then? Be prepared. Take the extra precaution and dress for success.

Clean Environment
You will be on display in the foreground of your camera, of course. But, what of the background? Your environment matters. Your interviewer will take notice. Ensure the room is tidy. After all, an organized room depicts an organized life.

Audio
It’s easier to make an impression in person, because you can use physical contact. Via video, however, you are limited. The best way to make an impression here is to focus on the conversation. As such, you need to ensure that the interviewer can hear you. Oftentimes, the quality of built-in laptop microphones is poor at best. It’ll pick up background noise and make it difficult for the interviewer to hear you. Instead either use a professional microphone or a pair of headphones which can focus in on your voice.

Call the Interviewer
Instead of having the interviewer call you, call him or her instead. If you call the interviewer, you can set the overall tone of the interview. This is the perfect way to show that you are confident and in command right away.

Look into the camera
A key tip to keep in mind, during your interview, is to keep eye contact with the camera, rather than your computer screen. This will demonstrate your confidence and certainty to your interviewer. In this case, keeping eye contact with the camera is the same as keeping eye contact with the interviewer. Yes, it’s awkward, but do it anyway. Eye contact, when you’re online, is just as important as it is face to face.

TemPositions President/CEO Wins Staffing 100 Award

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James Essey, TemPositions President/CEO has been named to Staffing Industry Analysts’ “Staffing 100” List for the fourth time in seven years (no list was released in 2015). The list recognizes leaders that have made a difference not only in the staffing industry but also in the lives of the millions of people they have helped find work.

Jim’s passion for the staffing industry in unparalleled. In the 30+ years, Jim has worked in the firm, he has grown it to become one of the largest regional players in the industry, offering a full service capability to his clients through separately managed practice areas providing numerous skill sets including logistics and light assembly, hospitality, office support, health care, education, accounting and finance, HR, IT and legal. Each of these businesses is supported through numerous technological innovations which move the business forward by improving the customer and employee experience and differentiating it from the competition.

Jim strongly believes in giving back to the industry through volunteerism. He currently volunteers his time as chair of the American Staffing Association’s legal and legislative committee and its public policy advocacy task force. He is also a past chairman of the ASA and past president of the New York Staffing Association. Through his leadership positions Essey has shaped testimony in such areas as New York state’s proposed regulations regarding pay cards, New York City’s regulations on when criminal background questions can be asked and New York City’s recent bill prohibiting employers from discussing an applicant’s salary history. He requested concessions on the new San Francisco law that will require employers to pay up to 45% of an employee’s weekly salary for family medical leave.

The Staffing 100 is chosen after a thorough review of nominations by Staffing Industry Analysts’ team and advisers.

About Staffing Industry Analysts

Staffing Industry Analysts is the global advisor on contingent work. Known for its independent and objective insights, the company’s proprietary research, award-winning content, data, support tools, publications, and executive conferences provide a competitive edge to decision-makers who supply and buy temporary staffing. In addition to temporary staffing, Staffing Industry Analysts also covers these related staffing service sectors: third-party placement, outplacement, and staff leasing (PEOs). Founded in 1989 and acquired by Crain Communications Inc in 2008, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in London, England.

About TemPositions

Founded in 1962, The TemPositions Group of Companies is one of the country’s largest regional full-service staffing agencies offering temporary, contract, temp-to-hire, direct hire and recruitment process outsourcing services. We serve the New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Northern California markets.