Monthly Archives: April 2018

Giving Employers What They Want

What do employers want from their employees? While the answers will vary from company to company, field to field, and manager to manager, there are some common skills and qualities that employers look for in their new employees.

Great team members all have certain characteristics, and they are the characteristics that managers want to see in every new employee. If you are hoping to make a good impression on your new employer, keep in mind that these are likely the traits they are looking for in you:

  • Dependability – Show up on time, dress in a professional manner, turn in the same quality of work each day, commit to the team, and give your manager a sense that when she passes a project on to you, she knows it’s in good hands.
  • Self Motivation – Managers dislike micromanaging their employees almost as much as employees dislike being micromanaged. They want their teams to hit the ground running each day, they want employees to seek out new projects and overcome obstacles on their own.
  • Brand Ambassadors – Employers want strong representatives of their brand – whether they are on the clock or off the clock.
  • Flexibility – Change is inevitable. Employers want team members who can roll with the punches, adapting their approach quickly in the face of change.
  • Teachability – Are you open to learning new skills? How quickly do you pick up on them? Employers want their team members to be open to learning.
  • Empathy – Not every person on a team is going to get along with every other person all of the time. Conflict is a fact of life. But employers want to see a high level of empathy from their employees. Can you put yourself in others’ shoes and overcome conflict to get the job done?
  • Proactivity – When something needs to be done, don’t wait to be instructed to do it. Roll up your sleeves and get things done without having to be asked or told.
  • The Ability to Act on Feedback – When a manager tells you that you’ve done something well, do you repeat that behavior? When you’ve been given a plan for improvement, how quickly do you act on it? The ability to receive and act on feedback shows a high level of engagement in your work.

Employers want employees who have the necessary qualifications to get a job done. But that’s not the full story. When you take the time to understand the “human” qualities that employers want to see, you will be better equipped to deliver results for your manager and your company.

If you are professional in engineering, IT, sales, marketing or operations, the professional recruiters at The Prevalent Group can help you become a candidate that hiring managers want for their team.  We work with some of the most innovative and forward-thinking companies in the country, and we can help you take the next step in your career. Contact us today to learn more.

How To Deliver Results At Work

Ever since The Great Recession, U.S. companies have adopted a lean approach to business. Everyone has been doing more with less for quite some time, and employees continue to feel the pinch. Delivering solid results when faced with a crippling workload is never easy, but it can be done.  Follow this guide to ensure that your boss views you as someone who can deliver “the goods” time and time again.

First, Eat Your Peas

We often put our least-favorite tasks at the bottom of our to-do lists. Try flipping things around and “eating your peas” first. Each day, choose the task you dread the most and get it done right away, saving the remainder of your day for tasks you find more interesting and enjoyable.

When you make your least-favorite tasks a priority, your overall productivity will improve. When you save them until the end of the day, you’re more likely to drag your feet on other projects, thereby “putting off” your most unpleasant work and falling into the procrastination trap.

Say Yes to Less

Every time you accept a new project or task, you are adding more to your plate. If you’re starting to get backed up, it’s time to speak up. Drop by your boss’s office with your task list and show her your current workload. Ask for permission to delegate some tasks. It might make sense to have a more analytical co-worker complete certain spreadsheets, or a more eloquent team member draft deliverable documents, for example. If the goal is quality results, some shifting might make sense for the entire team.

Remember, there is more honor in raising your hand when you feel you’re drowning than there is in delivering poor results because you’re overworked.

Review Results Regularly

Block out time each Friday afternoon to review your week. What did you get done? What went well? Where did you stumble? Are you taking too much time to complete tasks that aren’t a priority? Take stock of what happened, where you spent your time, and which of your goals you achieved. Use that insight to plan your Monday accordingly. It can be beneficial to share your self-reviews with your boss, as well. It doesn’t have to be formal, you can simply send him an email outlining your thoughts and asking for feedback.

When your boss sees how you are spending your time, he might have some insight into future workflow. If he’s been assigning you tasks that waste your time or talent, he can make that assessment when he sees it in black and white.

If you are someone who delivers results time and time again – but you are on the hunt for new opportunities and challenges – contact The Prevalent Group today. Our team of executive recruiters work with professionals in sales, marketing, engineering, IT and operations, and they can connect you with a position that aligns with your long-term career goals.

What Interviewers Want Candidates to Know

As a job seeker, wouldn’t it be great if you could read your interviewers’ minds? Well, you can’t become a psychic, but you can get a glimpse into the things that hiring managers wish candidates knew about the interviewing process. Here are a few secrets to help give you an edge in your next interview:

They Already Know Quite a Bit About You

Before you even received a call for an interview, the hiring team Googled you. They looked at your LinkedIn page, your other social media profiles, they read your blog, and they conducted various other forms of recon on you. This means you need to always be mindful of your online presence. Even if you think you do a good job of keeping your personal profiles private, it never hurts to Google yourself from time to time so that you can see what potential employers will find when they search for you.

Appearances Do Matter

Nobody likes to admit that they judge books by their covers, but in truth, everyone does. Hiring managers will make assumptions about you based upon the way you dress and carry yourself in an interview. This means that you should always dress professionally and conservatively. For men, a suit and tie is always in order. For women, necklines and hemlines should always be modest. Choose neutral colors, limit jewelry, and go easy on the cologne or perfume.  Walk with confidence, use a firm handshake, and make strong eye contact.

Everybody is a Perfectionist and a Team Player

Almost every candidate that sits in the interview chair regurgitates the same canned, practiced and rehashed interview answers over and over again. If hiring managers had quarters for every “team player” and “perfectionist” who walked through their doors, they could all retire.  An interviewer genuinely wants to learn about you, so relax and be yourself, and try not to spit back robotic, memorized answers. Be genuine and let your true colors shine through.

The Most Qualified Candidate Doesn’t Always Get the Job

The most qualified candidate is not necessarily the best choice for every job. Hiring managers must consider how well a candidate’s personality will mesh with the team, they must consider a candidate’s values and ethics, and they must also consider soft skills. If a candidate is extremely likeable and passionate about the job, they may actually have a better chance than the most qualified, yet unenthusiastic, candidate. In an interview, you never want to assume that your resume will speak for you. If you want a job, don’t be afraid to show your enthusiasm to the interviewer. And if you aren’t the most qualified candidate, you can increase your stock by demonstrating passion and an eagerness to learn.

An excellent way to brush up on your interviewing skills is to work with a professional recruiting firm. Recruiters know their client companies inside and out, and they can help adequately prepare you for each step of the process.  If you are looking to work with an effective recruiter, contact The Prevalent Group today. We are a nationally recognized management and executive placement and recruitment agency that works with experienced managers and executives in sales, marketing, engineering, technology and more. We can help you locate job opportunities that align with your long-term personal and professional goals.

What to Do On Your First Day of Work

The first day on a new job is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. No matter what you may be feeling inside, however, you want to make sure that you make a great impression on your first day.

Plan Your Outfit The Night Before

Plan your “first day” outfit the night before and make sure to have one backup in case you spill coffee on yourself right before you walk out the door.  Make sure you are clear on the office dress code. Remember “business casual” at one company could mean something completely different at another.

Leave Home Early

You should have already planned your driving route to work, which means you should know how long it is going to take you to get there.  Leave much earlier than you think you will need to, just to avoid any potential rush-hour traffic snags.

Get Your Shaking Hand Ready

You’re going to meet a lot of new people over your first few days on the job. Be prepared to introduce yourself over and over again. Try to say more than, “My name is Susan.” What do you want them to remember you for? Engage in conversation, make eye contact with everyone, smile pleasantly, and offer a firm handshake.

Make a Serious Effort to Remember Names

When meeting someone new, always repeat their name out loud. “Very nice to meet you, Bob.” If you did not catch a person’s name or you are unsure of the pronunciation, ask the person to repeat the name, and then make a concerted effort to remember it.

Accept a Lunch Invitation

If your colleagues invite you to lunch, accept the invitation, even if you’ve packed yourself a healthy, balanced meal. Saying no could offend your team members. During your first few weeks, you should accept all lunch invitations to get to know your co-workers and to help build camaraderie. Once you’ve settled in, you can go back to your regular lunch routine.

Take Notes

Take a notepad and pen with you everywhere you travel on your first day. Write things down so that you don’t have to ask the same questions over and over again. Taking notes shows that you’re paying attention to what’s going on around you and that you are interested in learning.

Don’t Bolt at 5:00

Don’t watch the clock in your early days. Try to stick around a few minutes after the close of business to show that you’re interested in getting the job done.

If you are looking for job search guidance, contact The Prevalent Group today. We are a nationally recognized management and executive placement firm that works with experienced professionals in sales, marketing, engineering, technology and more. We look forward to working with you.