The Human Resource

How to handle a telephone interview

2011-12-18T14:08:00.000-08:00

Many things have changed about interviewing in the last few years, but nothing more then the use of a screening telephone interview. It saves time, money and office space. For anyone looking for a job today, one out of every 6 interviews will begin with a telephone screening.

A phone interview sounds like a dream way to get a job, doesn't it? You don't have to get dressed in your best interview attire, travel to a company's office, or interview one-on-one with a hiring manager. Instead, you're interviewing on the phone from the comfort of home and can even be in your PJs while you do it.

Don’t be fooled, it's not as easy as it seems. You can blow a telephone interview just as easily as you can blow an in-person interview, in fact, it much easier to do. Dropped calls, phone batteries not charged, background noise, not having anything to write with; not knowing about the company, and especially not being prepared to respond to interview questions can knock you out of contention for a job because they have nothing to base their first impression of you on except a voice over the phone.

Review these tips for how to conduct a phone interview and what not to do when you're interviewing via the telephone to make sure your phone interviews get you to the next step in the hiring process.

Phone Interview Do's and Don'ts

Create a checklist. Review the job posting and make a list of how your qualifications match the hiring criteria. Have the list available so you can glance at it during the interview. Also have a copy of your resume in clear view, so you don't have to remember what you did when.

Research the job and the company. Take some time to research the job and the company. The more prepared you are for the interview, the smoother it will go.
Prepare for phone interview questions. Review answers to typical phone interview questions and think about how you're going to respond. Below are some various types of questions to review and begin thinking of your answers ahead of time.

Phone interview questions (many are going over your resume so have it handy)

• What is the name of your company, your job title and job description? What are your dates of employment?
• What were your starting and final levels of compensation?
• What were your responsibilities?
• What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them? Why are you leaving your job?
• What are your salary expectations?
• What interests you about this job?
• Why do you want this job?
• What applicable attributes / experience do you have?
• What can you do for this company?
• What do you know about this company?
• Why do you want to work here?
• What challenges are you looking for in a position?
• What can you contribute to this company?
• Is there anything I haven't told you about the job or company that you would like to know?
• What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• What is your greatest strength?
• Describe a typical work week.
• How would you describe the pace at which you work?
• How do you handle stress and pressure?
• What motivates you?
• Tell me about yourself?

When you are invited for a phone interview, in addition to reviewing the typical phone interview questions you'll be asked, it's important to have a list of questions ready to ask the interviewer.

Phone Interview Questions to Ask:

• How would you describe the responsibilities of the position?
• What qualities are you looking for in the person you hire to join this company?
• If I was hired, how would I be interacting with you and your department, what would be your expectations, and your measures for success?
• How would I get feedback about how well my work meets the expectations?
• What do you view as the most challenging part of this job?
• Why is the last person who held this position leaving?
• Who does this position report to?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What is the typical work week? Is overtime expected? How about travel?
• What are the opportunities for advancement with the company?
• Is there anything else can I tell you about my qualifications?
• Could I schedule an in-person interview at your convenience?
• How soon would you like someone to begin the position?
• When can I expect to hear from you?
• Are there any other questions I can answer for you?

Keys to a successful phone interview:

Use a land line. Unless your cell phone service is 100% all the time, use a land line instead of a cell phone. That way you won't have to worry about dropped calls and getting disconnected.

Turn off call waiting. If you have call waiting turn it off. The beep of an incoming call is distracting and can make you lose your focus.

Get rid of the distractions. Interview in a private space with no intercoms, musak or the positional to be interrupted; that means securing a babysitter if you have small children at home and kicking the dog, the cat, and the rest of the household members out of your interview space or coworkers, bosses and friends out of a conference room for phone closet.

Have a glass of water nearby. There isn't much worse than having a tickle in your throat or a cough starting when you need to talk on the phone. Have a glass of water handy so you can take a quick sip if your mouth gets dry or there's a catch in your throat.

Have 2 pens and paper to take notes. Pen one will always die on you and it's hard to remember what you discussed after the fact, so take brief notes during the interview.

I hope this information helps and that you will get an in person interview out of it. That is you goal!

Brian Steffan

What not to do at a Holiday Work Party

2011-12-15T09:40:00.000-08:00

1) List All The Ways You Hate Your Job
Do prepare an elevator pitch. Do not detail everything that's wrong with the company.
2) Show Too Much Skin
Do try to look nice. Do not mistake vulgar for sexy.
3) Get Sloppy Drunk
Do relax and have fun. Do not drink more than you can handle.
4) Make A Rambling, Incoherent Toast
Do make a toast to up your visibility. Do not ramble on and bore or offend those gathered.
5) Bring An Ill-Advised Date
Do bring your partner, if invited. Do not bring someone you don't trust to be professional.
6) Get Grabby On The Dance Floor
Do let your hair down. Do not make any outrageous displays on the dance floor.
7) Start A Fight
Do mingle. Do not throw any punches.
8) Do Your Comedy Routine
Do lighten the mood with calculated humor. Do not go into your late-night comedy routine.
9) Ask The Big Boss What they 'Really' Does All Day
Do introduce yourself to your boss's boss. Do not ask too-personal, critical or rude questions.
10) Be Creepy And Suggestive
Do try to network with those you don't often work with. Do not flirt, hit on or suggestively touch anyone.

Copied from Forbes Magazine.

I blew it!

2011-09-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

Is there a worse feeling than leaving an interview knowing that you blew it? Especially in today’s economy, where good job opportunities seem to be running scarce.

Majority of the time, the interviewee will look back at a critical mistake as something they said to the interviewer, which could be true. The principal issue in many interviews is almost as basic as brushing your teeth: Candidates ignore how they are conveying themselves non-verbally. One wrong cue could stick out to an employer and ultimately have you cut from the hiring process. Follow these do’s and Don’ts before your next interview and you might leave with a job offer.
Don’ts

• Rub or touch your nose. Not only is it grotesque, many bosses have been trained that this is a lying technique.
• Slouch back in your seat. It seems like an obvious one, but if you are flowing with good verbal answers, sometimes your body gets too relaxed.
• Cross your legs and shake your foot. It shows that you are nervous and uncomfortable.
• Sit with your arms folded. That is the ultimate sign of hostility.
• Rub the back of your head or neck. Some interviewers take this as a sign of disinterest.

Do’s
• Sit up straight and slightly lean forward. The lean shows admiration and agreement with the interviewer and suggests that you are willing to interact.
• Make thorough eye contact. It shows you are confident. If there are multiple people in the room, make sure to spread the wealth.
• Nod and make positive gestures. It shows enthusiasm.
• Limit your use of cologne and/or perfume. It could cause a headache and some people are allergic to it.
• Smile while standing up, even on a phone interview. Studies show that standing leads to your level of attentiveness.

2011-09-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

4 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Network

How many times do you hear the phrase ‘It is not about what you know, but who you know.’ A few people take that phrase to heart when they are jobless, seeking out everyone and anyone. In the mean time, most of the unemployed sector ends up scouring online for jobs for hours at a time, and usually have their resumes thrown on the bottom of a pile. It is time for you to take charge of your job search and follow these four networking tips.

1) You Know More People Than You Think
Just contacting your immediate connections isn’t good enough if you are truly serious about finding the right job. Neighbors, old friends from high school and college, your church, the gym, your sibling’s best friends, even your old friendly landlord. Everyone needs to be taken into consideration. Facebook and LinkedIn can be used as tools to organize a list. Even if these people aren’t directly in your desired field, more often than not, they will know of someone who may be able to help you out. Don’t be embarrassed to reach out either. Most people like helping out and giving advice; it makes them feel important.

2) Get Your References In Check
Never ever use a friend as a reference. Employers will laugh at your feeble attempt to get a person to say something good about you. A professional reference should be someone who enjoys your personality but can also vouch on your resume, abilities and track record. Explain to them your current situation, your new goals and ask them for their support. Many times these references are the ones who end up finding you a gig. It is your responsibility to keep them informed on any potential interviews and/or phone calls they may receive. Even if you go on an interview and don’t land the job, still thank your references.

3) The Fun Part: Reaching Out
After you have organized and compiled your list, it is time to start putting your network into action. Before contacting anyone you need to set clear goals as to what kind of job you are looking for. And also don’t rush into your ‘job need’ with a contact. Take the adequate time whether it is in person or over email to do the proper catching up. Once you start networking never utter the phrase “Let me know if you hear of anything.” That is too generic of a request and people in your network will forget about you. Tell the said person that you are looking for a position, be detailed on the kind of job you want and finally ask them if they know anyone in your chosen field.

4) Maintain These Relationships
Your brother’s old co-worker may now be one of your top job networkers if you say the right things to him. Now the trick is to keep him thinking about how he can help you. You don’t want your contacts to feel ambushed by your requests, so ask them for insight at first. Most times that exchange can lead to much more on your behalf. Don’t be a hit-and-run networker either. Even if you don’t get what you want from a contact at this current time, check back with them a few months later. It is worth the shot. Finally, be genuine; meaning just be yourself. Pursue a job you want. If you hide the true person you are, you could find yourself unemployed much longer than you anticipated.

5 Ways to Keep your Best and Brightest Employees

2011-09-06T08:43:00.000-07:00

Staying satisfied at the workplace, from both the employer and employee’s perspective, is becoming a daunting challenge in everyday America.

A 2010 Corporate Leadership Council survey detailed that more than 25 percent of employees were planning on changing jobs within the next 12 months. As if that statistic alone wasn’t alarming enough, more than half of the executives who participated in the survey agreed that their organizations are unsuccessful at retaining the top talent they’ve hired.

The growing problem in the workplace can be pinned on both parties, although the employer is responsible for taking charge in implementing a more suitable atmosphere. Check out the list of tips below.

1) Open Communication
Employees deserve the right to know where they stand on an impending promotion. Being dishonest or putting off a decision usually has worse ramifications than informing the employee of the bad news. Even so, as an employer you need to foster visibility. Employee’s exposure to you can be an essential ingredient to keeping them content with their future. In these meetings stress the value of developing leadership attributes.

2) Hold Employees Accountable
Research suggests that employees thrive when they are given real responsibilities, something that employers are reluctant to give. Employees that are frustrated usually feel like they aren’t being pushed enough and/or are getting too many general assignments. So show them that they matter. To keep these go-getters happy, employers should assign meaty projects. Then in turn the company is able to measure results.

3) Be Flexible
Handing over an inflexible assignment to an employee, such as relocation when the person has young children, can be a morale buster. You must compromise on the situation to make sure your employee isn’t disgruntled, or the odds are stacked against you. And that isn’t a scenario you want when you’ve just promoted someone.

4) Assign Mentors
You shouldn’t leave an employee hanging out to dry when they are first hired. Tap an effective mentor who fits their personality. Remember to occasionally sit down with that mentor and make sure they are there for encouragement and support/

5) Use A System
Having a ‘method to your madness’ as an employer shows that you provide fair and sustainable solutions to any problem an employee may have. George Penn, senior director of Corporate Leadership Council, says the key in a system is to “provide processes for creating criteria, assessing performance and controlling compliance in administration.”

Parting ways with an employee is a stressful situation that may cause harm to a company. By following these strategies effectively, satisfaction issues within your office will indeed be curbed.

How to Get Fired in 12 Easy Steps

2011-09-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Now that the employment market is heating up again, I thought this might be a good time to add this great information to my blog. Through my extensive years in the employment industry I know there are a million articles on succeeding in the job market, but, very few about how to lose a job a few easy steps. Here is the best article you could ever read.

Oh, and if you want to stay employed, just do the opposite of everything below.

Arrive late for work
Being on time is for losers; get out of bed whenever you feel like it. Stop to run an errand on your way to the office and don’t call your supervisor.

Don't forget the coffee
No, not for your boss silly, for you! You're already late so why not stop for a cup of coffee on the way to work? Don't forget to get a muffin or a roll too and walk in holding both.

Eat at your desk
I mean your coffee and roll, not your lunch silly. Why would you want to work through lunch anyway? And even better, step out once you are settled in and grab a mid-morning snack, you're in no hurry to start working anyway.

Take a long lunch
only an hour for lunch? Are they crazy? There is no way that is enough time to get together with an old friend and run a few more errands. You know you can stretch it out for an extra 15 or 20 minutes

Have a cocktail
what is lunch without a Martini? Haven’t you watched MAD MEN? It'll relax you. So what if you smell like a brewery and act inappropriately?

Make personal phone calls
if you can't make your phone calls from the office, when else will you find the time? Oh, and use your cell phone with the crazy ringtone.

Speaking of chatting...
Let's not forget about the Internet or even better, the Intranet so you can chat any time of day, so why waste your precious personal time.

Send lots of email
Use those eight hours at work to take care of all that personal email. Oh and don't forget to use your work email address. Especially when sending out your resume to employment advertising.

Download and buy things online
your connection is much faster at work than on your home computer. And besides, there are some things you wouldn't want your significant other to see, now would you?

Make the customers/clients really mad
there are several ways to do this. If you deal with customers in person, ignore them while you talk to your co-workers. Don't have answers to their questions. If most of your contact is by phone, keep yours busy so clients can't get through. If they bother to leave a message, don't return their phone calls.

Don't ever go above or beyond your job description
even when a project is down to the wire and your help is desperately needed, just remember: "It's not your job." And you have waited 3 months to see the new twilight movie with your best friend.

Leave work early
who made that 5:30 pm rule anyway? If you leave 15 minutes early think of how much FASTER you can get ahead of rush hour traffic.

How to prepare for a Hurricane

2011-08-25T16:41:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Irene is supposed to make landfall on Saturday and Washington, DC has not seen a hurricane since Isabel in 2004. Please cut and paste the following into your address line: http://www2.sptimes.com/weather/SP.1.html

Be safe, stay dry and always be prepared.

Brian Steffan

10 things to never do with your resume

2011-05-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

1. "Once you're unemployed more than six months, you're considered pretty much unemployable. We assume that other people have already passed you over, so we don't want anything to do with you."

– Cynthia Shapiro, former human resources executive and author of 'Corporate Confidential: 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn't Want You to Know'

2. "When it comes to getting a job, who you know really does matter. No matter how nice your resume is or how great your experience may be, it's all about connections."

– HR director at a health-care facility

3. "If you're trying to get a job at a specific company, often the best thing to do is to avoid HR entirely. Find someone at the company you know, or go straight to the hiring manager."

– Shauna Moerke, an HR administrator in Alabama who blogs at hrminion.com

4. "People assume someone's reading their cover letter. I haven't read one in 11 years."

– HR director at a financial services firm

5. "We will judge you based on your e-mail address. Especially if it's something inappropriate like kinkyboots101@hotmail.com or johnnylikestodrink@gmail.com."

– Rich DeMatteo, a recruiting consultant in Philadelphia

6. "If you're in your 50s or 60s, don't put the year you graduated on your resume."

– HR professional at a midsize firm in North Carolina

7. "There's a myth out there that a resume has to be one page. So people send their resume in a two-point font. Nobody is going to read that."

– HR director at a financial services firm

8. "I always read resumes from the bottom up. And I have no problem with a two-page resume, but three pages is pushing it."

– Sharlyn Lauby, HR consultant in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

9. "Most of us use applicant-tracking systems that scan resumes for key words. The secret to getting your resume through the system is to pull key words directly from the job description and put them on. The more matches you have, the more likely your resume will get picked and actually seen by a real person."

– Chris Ferdinandi, HR professional in the Boston area

10. "Resumes don't need color to stand out. When I see a little color, I smirk. And when I see a ton of color, I cringe. And walking in and dropping off your resume is no longer seen as a good thing. It's actually a little creepy."

– Rich DeMatteo

A special number 11. Do not put a picture of yourself on your resume unless you are a model applying for a modeling job. Otherwise it look arrogant and that you relyon your looks rather than on your skills.

- Brian Steffan, President Steffan & Co., Inc

Condensed from Reader's Digest Magazine, April 2011

Welcome Louise Verret, Our New Vice President of Legal Services

2011-03-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

After many years as the Director of Personnel for Patton Boggs LLP, one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in Washington, DC, Louise has joined our firm to head up our Legal Division. During Louise's tenure she has interviewed, hired and supervised over 2,000 legal support staff and paraprofessionals. Do you think she knows a thing or two about law firms? If you would like to find out and utilize her invaluable experience finding you the right employee or job, please call her at 703-224-8182 or email her at lverret@steffanco.com

It's a Whole New Employment World Out There

2011-01-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011 Everyone!

Well, we all survived 2008, 2009 and 2010 and I for one am so thrilled it is 2011. The average unemployment rate in the DC metropolitan area is 4%, with a national average at just under 10% which means that much fewer people are looking for jobs or are available to work for certain jobs. It is again a great time to look for a new position.

What this means for firms is the qualified employment pool is drying up and their positions are opening up again. Steffan & Co saw this turn coming back in late August and has been gearing up for 2011 ever since with an ever changing strong and diverse base of qualified available candidates ready to interview and start a new opportunity.

What this means for a qualified candidate is more opportunities, better salaries and a stable work environment to go into.

Everyone wins in a strong economy. I look forward to working with many new firms and candidates this year.

Brian Steffan

What is an agency

2010-10-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

What is an agency?

There are several types of agencies, from temporary to permanent and contingency to retainer based searches. Steffan & Co., Inc is a Direct Hire Permanent placement agency that also can provide temporary employment to clients on a contingency basis. Most importantly, no fees are charged to a candidate looking for a job. Fees are paid by our client companies over and above your salary. The Urban Legend that if you go through an agency, a client will reduce your salary or they will pick the candidate without a fee is simply not true. They pick the best candidate for the job which 93% of the time is through an agency. Why? Because you are better prepared, have more knowledge about the job and firm and have been provided valuable interview training by professionals.

How does an agency work?

How we at Steffan & Co prefer to work is, to have you call or email us that you are interested in a specific position or in using our agency. We then ask you to email a copy of your resume for us to review and at the same time we will send you a link to our online application. Once we receive it, we will send you our online testing from Assessment Solutions and when the testing is completed and provided your skills match the position or a similar position we have, we will schedule in for a one on one interview

For the interview, please bring a hard copy of your resume, a list of at least 3 supervisory references and any letters of recommendation you might have. You will interview with us for about 30 minutes where we will go over your resume, background and find out more about what you want in your next career move.

Now comes the tough part, we have placed candidates within 2 hours of meeting with us and as much as two years after meeting with us. It all depends on what we have open that fits your background and desires in a new position. We always keep you in our active database and will contact you when a position comes in. We understand how anxious one can become while waiting for a call so please feel free to email us about the status of your application. It is the easiest and quickest way to reach us.

What happens when an interview is scheduled with the client?

Once an interview is set we will plan a time for us to prep you for interviewing with a client. We will provide you with the address and names of who you will meet and ways of researching the firm so that you will have the most information before you walk in. We will give over interview questions and role playing if necessary to make you the most marketable candidate for that position.

Who handles an offer?

When a client is ready to make an offer they will make it through us so that we can negotiate the best salary and employment package for you as well and handle any vacation dates for pre-scheduled appointments in your first 90 days of employment. Once the offer is confirmed we present it to you for your review and acceptance.

We check all your references, handle background checks and anything else a client may need to make you the best offer possible.

Steffan & Co is now on TV

2010-07-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

Get Noticed for The Job You Want!

2010-07-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Steffan & Co is proud to announce a new resume and interview service we offer for independent job seekers. We will craft a professionally written resume for you that will:

*Promote your unique qualifications and skills
*Appeal visually with a well-designed format
*Make sure you stand out as a superior candidate
*Get you more interviews

In addition, we will train you on how to interview, test and present yourself so that you are the best and most marketable job seeker looking for employment.

Package 1. We offer this service at $99.00, which will include: an initial information finding meeting and any follow up meetings that are needed, resume creation and design, and you will receive 10 paper copies and one electronic resume upon approval.

Package 2. We offer this service at $159.00, which will include: an initial information finding meeting and any follow up meetings that are needed, resume creation and design, and a one hour in person interview prepping session with handouts. You will receive 10 paper copies and one electronic resume upon approval.

Package 3. We offer this service at $209.00, which will include: an initial information finding meeting and any follow up meetings that are needed, resume creation and design, and a one hour in person interview prepping session with handouts. Plus the creation of a universal cover letter to use with your new resume. You will receive 10 paper copies and one electronic resume upon approval.

We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover and personal checks. Please call or email today to set up an appointment with Brian at 703-224-8182 or
bjsteffan@steffanco.com

Exclusivity - Why businesses need it.

2010-01-30T19:06:00.000-08:00

We want it in our love lives, so why not in business. Many businesses feel the more agencies they use, the more qualified candidates they see. FALSE, there is a limited pool of qualified candidates for each job and through advertising, websites; job boards, referrals and pinpoint recruiting most agencies will have the same candidates. So what happens when you put out your open positions to 3, 4 and in some cases 8 agencies? You have agencies submitting the same candidate and rushing to get you the resume when they have not even spoken to the person. All because as we all know whoever gets it in first, wins.

Once an agency submits a candidate resume and they are told “we have them already” the agency usually will stop searching and move on to better opportunities to make money. Like one client I have, they started their search for a Paralegal in late November on their website and gave it to four agencies. By December 23, 2009, they gave it to me and another agency, by January 15 they were offering a bonus for an agency to help them find someone and by January 23 they lowered their requirements. Do you think it was because no one in the DC/Baltimore/Richmond area didn’t have the skills? Maybe, but more likely the agencies stopped working on it. When I submitted the names of 2 candidates and they already had them, or when I made recruiting calls and found that most people knew of the position from the firm’s website or had already been contacted by other agencies. Did I stop working on it? No. Did it move to the back of the priority list, yes and I moved onto positions that were exclusively working with me.

I believe in customer service, attention to detail and giving a client what they want the first time. My clients know in return for their exclusive business, that I only work on their position and find them exactly what they want. In one recent case, I did it in only 2 days. Why? Because I had the security of knowing that my advertising dollar was well spent and I could spend 6 hours a day cold calling for the right candidate.

Businesses need to realize that the agencies in Washington, DC have gone from 680 in 2008, to 153 in 2009. Many of us have been in the business for 20 plus years and we talk. The thing I hear the most is how firms are hurting themselves by over saturating their searches with too many agencies and putting things like NO AGENCIES NEED CALL on their websites. The economy is changing and in a few months firms are going to be hiring and their websites aren’t going to cut it or advertising which has gone through the roof as far as cost, isn’t going to find them the right person. Start building your relationships again with one or two agencies at the most. Allow them to do the job you need.

How Do you go from Super Work to Supervisor?

2009-12-28T05:43:00.000-08:00

How Do You Go from 'Super Worker' to Supervisor?

The function and role of a supervisor is critically important to an organization. But what is a startling fact is that most supervisors are promoted from within, with little or no training. They go from being a 'super worker' on Friday to a supervisor on Monday.

They get promoted because of their knowledge, skills, and sometimes because they are just a nice person. Now certainly those are important qualities as a worker and you wouldn't want to promote someone that didn't have these qualities. (Why would you promote someone that just isn't a nice person, are not dependable, and unable to do their job?) But the qualities that made them a 'super worker' are not necessarily the same qualities they need to be a supervisor. In fact, surveys have shown that only 15% of the reason people get a job, keep it, and move ahead is due to your technical skills and knowledge.

What about the other 85%? Studies have proven that the other 85% of the reasons you get a job, keep it, and move ahead is due to your people skills and people knowledge. You must be able to get others to do what you used to do so well.
But where do you get these people skills? Often this is what gets overlooked. It's usually by trial and error. (And we all know what happens when we do that.)
It is vitally important to develop these "people" skills ASAP!

Use this list below to evaluate yourself and to create a plan of action to become the best supervisor in your company.

Successful Supervisor Traits:

1) Ability to motivate others in a positive way to get results
2) Self starter and takes initiative to do what needs to be done
3) Communicates well with the management team, colleagues, subordinates, and other supervisors
4) Has great organizational skills and planning capabilities
5) Possesses good decision making skills
6) Able to adjust to change
7) Have good goal setting and achievement skills
8) Have a great attitude

In addition, you must think in terms of excellence, profitability, return on investment, and effectiveness.

Successful Supervisor Traits Evaluation and Action Plan

Evaluate each supervisor trait below by asking yourself the question. Decide if the trait is a strength or a weakness. Upon completion of the exercise, develop action steps to improve on the weaknesses you identified.

1. Do I motivate others in a positive way to achieve the desired results?
2. Am I a self starter and do I have initiative?
3. Do I communicate well with others?
4. Am I organized and do I plan well?
5. Do I have good decision making skills?
6. Do I resist change or embrace change?
7. Do I set and achieve goals?
8. Do I have a great attitude?

Your action plan should state specific steps towards improving on those traits you feel are not as strong as you would like. Concentrate on your weaknesses, but be sure to review your strengths to determine if there is more you can do to reinforce your strong traits. ~ Copyright ©2009, Gary Sorrell, Sorrell Associates, LLC

Ann Rosser is a business coach, success facilitator and certified mediator by the Supreme Court of Virginia. Her firm, Finding Resolution works with successful individuals and organizations to take them to the next level through measurable return on investment, producing a better bottom line and increasing productivity and efficiency.

Please contact Ann today or visit her website at www.findingresolution.net

Finding Resolution, LLC
Ann W. Rosser, CEO
arosser@findingresolution.net
Phone: (703) 536-6915

The Cost of Overexposure

2009-11-05T16:10:00.000-08:00

I realize that anyone looking for a job right now is doing everything they can to secure one. Do you know that agencies are doing the same thing. With firms trying to save money and agencies trying to get the few remaining jobs out there the market is saturated with ads. The problem is, if you send your resume to every ad then you are 100% sure to crossover with firms and other agencies. There is nothing more frustating then to take the time to screen, test and meet a candidate only to find out when you present them to a client they have been presented by three other sources and many times the poor candidate has no clue.

Protect yourself by only registering or sending your resume to no more than 2 agencies to start and ask the firms to tell you where you are being sent. Provide the agency with a list of firms you have spoken to, sent a resume to or interviewed with. It saves time and the embarassment of overexposure. Instead of answering a blind ad, send a short email asking to be called or to find out if they are an agency or a firm. If they do not respond then don't send it.

At Steffan & Co., we treat you with respect and confidentiality and make you our priority and partner in placement.

Finally, the market has turned!

2009-07-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

After ten months of steadily declining numbers of both job orders and clients in need of employees, we at Steffan & Co. are happy to report that July marked the end of the recession and the beginning of the recovery. May and June were flat months as far as growth, but July has brought 11 of our old and dear clients back to us looking for their first new hires on 2009. And we have has an abundance of new clients calling us looking for new placements as well.

We are happy to be working with some of the area’s most stable and growing businesses. But even with the economy finally taking a turn for the better, it is just as difficult as ever to find the perfect candidate who is needed to help a business grow and succeed. This is a fact that agencies are happy to hear, for this means that they are still a necessity.

We are noticing salaries are a bit lower and job orders are more specific. Many firms are looking for more entry to mid-level candidates because they have the time to train them and the workload is lighter, for now. Firms are still looking for people with great tenure, who are currently employed or recently laid off. As always, great skills, clean backgrounds and strong references are plusses that will not be ignored. Most importantly, employers are looking for dead-on skill sets and years of relevant experience. Unlike in 2007 when a waiter could be hired as a paralegal and trained from the ground up because the market required it to be done, in 2009, firms want it all, and frankly, they have that luxury right now.

One more trend we have seen is that clients are looking for bargains, deals, lower fees, and longer warranties. Here, at Steffan & Co. they are getting what they want. As one of our service manager’s jokingly said to one firm who asked for the moon,
“I’ll give you the moon today but please remember this when I ask for it in a year.”
So enjoy our August special and even if you are not looking to hire today, call and introduce yourself and your firm, and get to know us. For you will need us in the future as we need you today (and forever).

You can't fix dumb

2009-03-03T18:01:00.000-08:00

A phrase my Mother would use often with reference to people and their decisions.

Yesterday brought Washington, DC its first major snow event of the season. Those who are not familiar with the DC snow mentality find it hysterical and baffling. First, the meteorologist makes a comment about the possibility of snow and the town is on alert and talking about nothing but the weather. Second, the snow event is moved to a warning and there will be accumulations. The town hits the stores for toilet paper, milk/alcohol and canned food, because if we are hit with the “big one” the stores on every corner will be closed for months. Third, it starts to snow and employees start the ritual calling of the company’s weather line hoping to hear the news “we’re closed”. They wait for school closings and pray the federal Government closes because if they do, it is an automatic closing for their company. Fourth, employees get up at 5:00 am to look out and see hopefully see 12” of snow. Then they turn on the TV to find only certain schools close and only a 2 hour delay. DARN!!

What do you do now? Well, yesterday many DC area employees decided to take a vacation day, some called in and others just “forgot” due to the horrible roads and conditions at 8:00 am. Many administrators, office managers and coordinators showed up yesterday to find 80% of their staff missing. By 10:00 am all main roads were clear, the sun was out, the sidewalks were shoveled and all public transportation was on time. So the 2 hour delay was perfect to allow employees to arrive by 11:00 am safely as all employers expected. But what happened?

Employees stayed home, went sledding with their kids, went out shopping and ran errands. By 11:30 am yesterday I had many angry and frustrated employers on the phone venting and asking for temps. It is great for us, but very BAD for you employees. Why? You ask, let me tell you. There is no excuse for you not to be at work unless you are stranded out in the country with a dead battery and no phone. You should have a backup plan in place if your children’s schools are closed that does not inconvenience an employer. You should have been able to shovel your car out with the delayed start to drive slower and after to get to work. You had time to catch a bus and take Metro to work; there was no excuse for an employee without children to not be at work except you wanted a day off.

DUMB! You are crazy? Well, many employees were and it will cost them in the long run. Managers will remember who took advantage of the situation and showed no loyalty. When it comes to the next round of layoffs or if a promotion is between 2 staff members and one took yesterday off. The other will get the promotion. I heard story after story yesterday about the behavior of employees. My favorite was the employee who didn’t call in and when the manager called their home, they got the answering machine and chose not to leave a message. About 10 minutes later, the employee emailed the manager with this in the subject line: You called? What do you need? Needless to say the manager forwarded it to the HR department and let them handle it. I think that employee is wishing they had gone to work yesterday.

On the bright side, all those dedicated, hard working and loyal employees that showed up for work yesterday and pitched in to pick up the workload became Rock Stars and moved to the employee of the month in owners, partners, and managers’ eyes. These will be the people who are safe from RIFs, get better raises and bonuses and promote faster in a firm. It is amazing how one single event can affect people so differently.

This is the appropriate response to snow or any other event. You go to work unless the Federal Government is closed but always call in and leave a message, check with your manager to see if you can work from home but don’t just, not call into work. Managers do worry about their staff. The night before you make sure you have a plan for your children if school is closed, gas up your car, make sure buses are running on schedule, get your shovel and snow scraper out to use and lay out warm clothes, boots and gloves. In the morning you check the roads, listen to the TV and call any weather lines to tell you what is going on. If your firm is 2 hours late then you get out and shovel, dress warmly and head to work. If you truly cannot get out of your home after all that work, then you call your manager, explain the situation and say that you will try it again in an hour, but you can never, just not show up. The effort will be recognized and appreciated.

Today an offer came out on a candidate who braved the weather to make a 10 am second interview yesterday while her two competitors canceled. She was a strong second but they all wanted another candidate who had more experience. After meeting her again and talking after she left, they felt that if she could come in during the weather that she was more interested in the firm and would go above and beyond in the position. They never rescheduled the other two. The other two are still unemployed.

You can't fix dumb.

Congratulations! You have a new job.

2009-02-19T22:09:00.000-08:00

But will you keep it? Patience falls and terminations rise during a recession. Firms are less likely to put up with an employee’s drama, tardiness, quirks and bad days. They don’t have too. Because there will be 50 qualified candidates waiting in line for the job.

During a booming economy most of these would have been forgiven or excused and even counseled because people are so hard to find. Not in a recession. You either hit the ground running with a smile and can do attitude or your days are numbered.

From 1995 - 2001 we had a total of 13 candidates terminated out of 711 candidates placed, about 2%. From 2002 - 2004 at the height of the last recession we had 26 candidates terminated out of 123 candidates placed, about 20%. The causes of the terminations were tardiness, absenteeism, not learning the job fast enough and attitude problems made up 20 of them.

What about the other 6 you ask? Well, they make up a large portion of chapter 6 in my book when it is published. My favorite personal favorite was the ultra professional employment law legal secretary who worked for the department head and had a webcam under their desk with live feed to their pay per view website. One of the office assistants apparently found the site and recognized the secretary. They went to send it to their buddy in accounting and accidently sent it firm wide. Needless to say many people lost their jobs that day

The other five were:

1. The secretary who ordered lunch and billed it to the firm and then invited 4 of their former coworkers to the firm to enjoy it in one of the conference rooms.

2. The secretary who punched their workstation mate for using their pen. They were apparently having a bad day.

3. The paralegal that sent $800 worth of flowers to a girlfriend in a week and billing it to a client.

4. The accountant whose husband called for 2 days to say his wife was out sick only to find out she had been arrested for embezzling $100,000 from the firm she came from. The candidate had only been able to embezzle $12,000 from their current firm after auditing the books.

5. The IT Manager that got caught with child pornography on their computer after a policy they implemented to crack down on inappropriate Internet use found it.

Although these are extreme cases, how many times have you done something at work that could get you fired immediately? Most of us can say sheepishly “a few”. Regardless of the reason, learn what constitutes termination at your firm and use common sense every day. If you don’t, be prepared to be unemployed for a while.

STOP! Watching the news or reading the paper...

2009-02-06T04:28:00.000-08:00

Unless, you are watching or reading something positive, creative and uplifting. Sadly, the media today looks for the worst rather than the best in a situation. We believe the media is feeding the downward spiral of our economy for ratings. Yes, things are bad but not as hopeless as the media would like you to believe.

The best example of this is a report that came out the other day that stated Macy's was hit hard by laying off 7,000 people. OH NO!!! What they did not tell you was the layoffs were mostly season and part-time employees. Macy's has close to 906 stores and that means an average of 7 employees per store were laid off. Many stores have 100-200 employees which would mean they lost 3.5-7% of their staff. An elevated number, not out of the ordinary for any retainer after the holiday season. Bad weather and post holiday bills can also cause a huge decrease in revenue.

The Washington, DC area still has one of the strongest economies in the country and we have seen a 700% growth in new client orders in the last week which we are thrilled to report. Now that the new administration is in, winter is winding down and layoffs are slowing things should settle down and start growing again in a few months. You have to remain upbeat and forward thinking to survive this economy.

We all will and are better for it.

Was I Laid Off or Terminated?

2008-11-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

When working with new candidates one of the first things we ask them is "why did you leave your most recent position." In response we occasionally receive "I was terminated." While that is possibly true, we need to clear that up. Where you terminated or laid off? It's interesting how many candidates don't realize the difference between the two. Prospective employers don't like hearing the word "terminated." It implies that you were let go for cause such as violating firm policy, inappropriate behavior or simply poor work ethic. If you were the victim of budget cuts or downsizing, you were laid off, not terminated. When asked, be very clear, not to mention truthful, about your reasons for leaving. If there is any discrepancy found during a background check it could cost you that new job. Be honest, it will save trouble and confusion in the long run.

Tenure, or "How Long Have I Been Here?"

2008-11-17T11:43:00.000-08:00

As candidates search for new career paths they quite often think about what they want in a new position. Higher salary. Better benefits. The corner office. An easier commute. These are all legitimate reasons to seek out a new job, but have you ,as a job seeker, ever stopped to think about what the firms want or need? Of course we all realize firms are looking for specific skill sets, education or training. So you think "I've got everything they are looking for. It's in the bag."

Let me ask you... How is your tenure?

It's a safe bet that you may not have thought much about that. I can tell you the agencies and firms are thinking about it though. In fact, it's one of, if not THE, first thing they take a look at. Sure, it was easy to be lured away in 2006/2007 when salaries were sky-high and benefits packages were amazing. Some candidates had even made as many as three career changes in one year. That seems like a lot, right? Well it is. Although candidates probably weren't thinking about it at the time, it's now coming back to haunt them.

Fast forward to 2008.

As the year progresses we all witness firms tightening their belts. Budget cuts are leading to reductions in salaries, bonuses being cut and even the dreaded layoff. One benefit of being in the Washington, D.C. area is that there is still a strong employment market. That's not to say that firm's aren't still tightening their belts. This time around they're hiring more strategically, and as mentioned earlier tenure is one of the first things they look at.

As an agency we are here to educate and guide you into making the right decision. Due to the current state of the economy and job market it is tough out there. There are more job seekers (many unemployed by no fault of their own) than there are jobs. If you are currently looking for a new job because you feel you deserve a higher salary, you don't like your boss or you're not getting enough vacation time (again, all legitimate reasons to seek out new employment) you might want to make sure your tenure is strong enough to support those reasons. If not, staying put until the economy picks up might be your best bet. Firms generally like to see candidates with a minimum of three years at their present firm. Job hopping indicates instability, inability to commit and lack of dedication. How do you think it looks to a prospective employer when, regardless of the reason, you left your last two or three jobs after only six months?

Steffan and Company recently started recruiting for an administrative position. In a weeks time we received nearly one thousand resumes. Some qualified, most not. Of those with qualifying backgrounds, only a handful had tenure of 18 months or longer. You, as a job seeker, have a lot of competition out there right now. Additionally many firms are scrutinizing resume and backgrounds, so make sure you have all your bases covered. That means getting employment dates correct, with days, months and years (a majority of firms do very thorough background checks!), your reasons for leaving (terminated, layoff, relocation), a list of 4-6 supervisory references, and most of all... make sure you have that strong tenure!

Five Ways To Secure a Better Raise

2008-09-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

1. Arrive 30 minutes early and be ready to work within 15 minutes. "Early is on time, on time is late, late is unaccaptable." Don’t always ask for over time, especially if you spend any time on the Internet for personal reasons or take personal calls at work. The firm does not dock your pay for it do they? Give them a freebie once in a while.

2. Before the end of the day ask your boss if there is anything that they would like done before you leave. Even if no is the answer they still remember you offered.

3. During your first 90 days, every Friday go in and ask your Boss how you are doing. It reminds them weekly of your performance so when it comes time for your annual review it is not based on the last few weeks. From 90 days to 6 months make it biweekly and from 6 months to a year make it once a month.

4. Sign up for extra-carricular activities in the firm. Join sports teams, food drives, social committees etc. This makes you very visible and paints you as a team player.

5. Stay away from any and all gossip. It can only hurt you in the long run. Politely tell the grapevine you want no part of it.

Give An Agency A Chance

2008-09-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

Job seekers are not always so quick to work with an employment agency. They feel agenices are pushy, unethical, ask for too much information, and that they are only in it for the money. In other words, agencies don’t care about you. At Steffan & Co. we really try to make you feel special, wanted and needed. Please read our testimonial. But, remember that working with an agency is a two way street.

An unofficial fact is that 80% of the jobs in DC are handled through employment agencies, whether they are temporary or permanent. We are a necessary evil to some and a Godsend to others. The following are a couple of tips to help ease the pain of working with an agency.

In order to help your agency out and allow them to make you a priority, start by responding to their calls and emails as quickly as possible, taking care of the necessary paperwork and testing (if required) as soon as possible. If you are not able to complete this first step within 2-3 hours let the agency know when you will be able to complete it. Contact is key. Keeping in constant contact lets us know that you are interested and you're not just "testing the water." If the agency is prepared to schedule you for an interview, then do it within 24 hours if possible. Agencies and their clients often do not have the luxury of time and therfore will not wait for you to make time for them. If you are not able to interview within 2-3 days of submitting your resume it is best to wait until you do have the time.

Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Not only should you review your resume but have 2-3 others proofread it as well. DO NOT RELY ON SPELLCHECK! Spell check does not know the difference between "their, they're and there" or "your and you're." A great tip to find spelling errors is to read the resume backward. Your eye can play tricks on you. If you are reading and anticipate a certain word, you will see it spelled correctly (even when it is wrong) simply because you are expecting it. Taking time out for revisions is time lost getting your resume in front of the client. Make sure to include a list of 4-6 supervisory references with your resume. The references you provide should be notified that they are being used as a reference and to expect a phone call.

Honesty is the best policy. Always be upfront with an agency about any terminations or jobs not listed on your resume. The agency can help explain gaps in employment. Let the agency know if you are interviewing elsewhere, waiting for an offer or have already accepted another offer. Additionally you should provide a list of other agencies you are working with or have submitted your resume. It will save time and reputations (not just ours, but yours as well) in the long run.

Objectives Bring Objections

2008-09-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

There are many resume experts who will tell you to include an objective on your resume, but is it really necessary in the real world? We at Steffan & Co. say no. In our many years of recruiting we have lost more interviews for qualified candidates because their objective had nothing to do with the job they are applying for or it is just “fluff”. If you have to have an objective make sure you change it for each individual job you are applying for. For example, do you really think an appropriate objective for a secretarial candidate is "To obtain a managerial position?" Too narrow an objective can also hurt you. An example would be sending your resume to a firm looking for a real estate legal secretary with an objective that states you are looking for a litigation legal secretary position. Instead of an objective consider using the space for something that adds to your experience or skills, such as a summary of skills, educational achievements or extracurricular activities.

Taking A Vacation... The Right Way

2008-04-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

Americans typically take the least amount of time off and/or vacation time from their jobs than in any other industrialized nation in the world. From paid vacation time to maternity leave to family leave, The United States is notorious for offering-and taking- little when compared to European nations, Canada, and even parts of the Far East.

If it can be tough to get a significant amount of time off from an established career for a vacation, what does that mean for someone currently searching for new employment? Everyone likes to take vacations, and just because you are currently looking for or starting a brand new job doesn’t necessarily mean that your family vacation is cancelled for the year. The key is to ask for the minimal amount of time off needed in a timely, respectful fashion.

What exactly does that mean? How do you ask for time off when you don’t officially have any “time off” to ask from? Very carefully! The first thing to always remember is to be honest. If you already have an August vacation planned and you are in a first interview that you feel is going well, let the interviewer know that you have a pre-planned, pre-paid family vacation that you wish to go on. Offer this information at an appropriate time during the interview, and explain to the interviewer that you would be more than willing to work extra before or after your time off (or even possibly do a small bit of telecommuting during your vacation)—whatever it takes for you to be able to keep your already made plans.

The employer will usually be honest in return, either sharing that your time off shouldn’t be a problem, or letting you know right away that the time off won’t be possible. You can then decide what is more important for you—this particular job or your vacation. Human resource professionals admit that a pending vacation (one week long or less), as long as not during a critical time of the year, would not affect their decision in hiring who they feel is the right person for the job.

If you have a vacation coming up soon, you may want to suspend your job search until after you return home. You want to make yourself available for interviews at the employer’s convenience, and it can give a poor impression if you get a call from an HR representative and are not available. If you wish to continue searching for a new job with a vacation coming up in the next few weeks, you might consider a line in your cover letter addressing your availability for interviews. One idea might be something along the lines of “I will be available for interviews, at your convenience, anytime on or after June 10th, and look forward to speaking with you in person regarding positions within your Firm.”

Most Human Resource professionals would discourage asking for any significant time off (more than one or two days) once you start a new position, until you have officially earned it. Instead, take advantage of long holiday weekends for family getaways and short vacations. Once you have “earned” vacation time, make sure you don’t ask for time off during crucial business times (tax time for Accounting firms, end of company fiscal years, etc.) and show respect for your co-workers who may already have requested certain time off. Seniority does have its advantages!

The professionals at Steffan and Company can help you navigate a job search around a pending vacation, as well as help prepare you for interview questions regarding time off needs. In fact, Steffan and Company can help you easily navigate through all aspects of finding new employment, including resume editing, interview coaching, and individual preparation for all aspects searching for and securing a new job. Take the guesswork out of searching for professional employment—let Steffan and Company do the work for you. They are the best in the area at what they do—placing qualified professionals in great jobs working for top companies. Call today and find out what they can do for you!

Top 10 Ways to be a Top Notch Candidate

2007-09-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Phillips

Steffan and Co., Incorporated works with top-notch employers throughout the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia area, providing them with quality employees in a wide variety of professional fields. The following are 10 ways that you can stand out from the “crowd” and be the best permanent placement candidate you can be.

1. Be On Time! It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But many of us have honest issues with time management, and during the candidate screening and interview process is NOT the time to let these issues get the best of you. When a professional placement candidate is late (regardless of what the appointment is for, whether it was a scheduled phone contact or face to face interview or meeting) there is little that can redeem that candidate’s professional image. Nothing can set a meeting, interview, or conversation off on such an immediate wrong foot than a candidate, who cannot, for whatever reason, be on time. It shows a severe lack of respect to the person waiting on you. Please note that being on time does not mean rushing in at exactly the right minute, out of breath and with some dramatic story of your travels. True professionals always arrive 5-10 minutes early, calm and well prepared. Scheduled phone interviews should be conducted in a quiet environment and you should have paper and pen ready to take notes. Being prepared and professional is key. If your using a cell phone make sure you charge your phone and have a full signal.

2. Be honest about what you really want Let the Steffan & Co., professionals know exactly what you want to do, and do not in your next job. Flexibility is usually acceptable and expected regarding certain job requirements, but it benefits all parties involved if you are clear about the “must” and “must not” of your next job. Before you begin your interview process sit down and make a list of 15 criteria your next job must have and then out of those 15 pick 5 that are nonnegotiable. This will help you know exactly what you want. Why waste everyone’s time arranging and participating in an interview for a job that you know for a fact you would not like or want?

3. Be truthful and consistent With today’s interviewing process involving reference and background checks regarding previous employment, education, criminal and credit histories. Never fudge on dates, duties, or education. Being truthful on resumes and job applications usually ensures consistency, while fibbing invites discrepancies that could affect your reputation as a trustworthy person. Many companies directly compare resumes sent at an earlier time to official applications specifically looking for differences in answers. It’s a huge “red flag” that a job candidate may not be what they seem, and one that can be difficult to explain your way out of.

4. Answer your telephone Don’t avoid phone calls from your permanent placement agency for any reason. People tend to avoid phone calls for a myriad of reasons: you are undecided and want a little more time to think, or you have changed your mind and are nervous about admitting it. This step is simply a part of Step #2 (Being honest). Your permanent placement representative is working within many different time constrictions, and truly needs and appreciates timely responses from candidates. If you need more time to think about an offer or have changed your mind, simply say so!

5. Dress the Part A true professional is always dressed as such. Never assume that “business casual” is acceptable for any interview, testing, or meeting. Save the business casual attire for after you have obtained employment and are certain of dress codes and requirements. First impressions are important and rarely do you get a second chance to make a first impression. Don’t let sloppy or inappropriate dress cast a shadow over your first impression to potential employers or the agency that is recommending you. If you have any questions just ask the professionals at Steffan & Co.

6. Rethink your Email address Don’t expect top employers and agencies to take anyone seriously whose email address is inappropriate. lovemartinis@XXX.com or sexyblonde69@XXX.com along with similar types of email addresses are just wrong in the business world. Just set up a new account with your name only.

7. Keep your appointments Your permanent placement agency will not work hard for you, or refer you to their valued clients, if you are unwilling to keep commitments and appointments.

8. Check in regularly with your permanent placement agency. A quick email is always best. Once a week is appropriate and encouraged.

9. Listen to advice offered to you from your agency representative. Whether it is about your resume, your interviewing skills or anything else, you are being offered advice from a professional in the Human Resources field—you will always benefit from their advice.

10. Feedback Please let your representative know how you feel about them and the service provided by Steffan & Co. The only way we get better is if you tell us how too. Constructive criticism and compliments go along way.

This article was written by Jennifer Phillips

10 Sure-Fire Ways To Get A Raise

2007-07-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

by Jennifer Phillips

Many professionals believe (albeit secretly) that they are not paid enough for their work and dedication to their company. Some of them are earning average or above average salaries for their positions, and just have the general feeling that “I should earn more money!” yet in comparison with the general market, they are compensated fairly.

But what about the professional that has been doing their job for a significant amount of time, doing it well, and thinking that it might be time for a raise? What is the best way to earn a raise? Should a person just wait until one is offered or should they be proactive and ask for one if they feel it is deserved?

First, a person needs to do a little investigating. How does your company handle performance reviews? Are raises in conjunction with them? Are raises given at certain time intervals (say, after one year, two years, etc)? Or are raises typically only given when promotions are granted? Finding out how your company handles increasing their employees pay is the first step to figuring out the best way for you to get the raise you feel you deserve.

That brings up the second point. Do you deserve a raise? The job market is full of smart, well-performing professionals and often just doing your basic job, and nothing more, does not merit a raise. Raises are often given to those who go above and beyond the average employee. Take some time to honestly rate your performance and dedication to your job. Is there any room for improvement, anything you could change that would ensure you would get the raises that you deserve?

Of course there is! There is a certain type of employee that, although they may perform their actual job no better or worse than their co-workers, will be the first to earn raises. What do these employees do differently that makes them stand out from the crowd? Following are 10 sure-fire tips to help you get the raise you deserve:

1. Arrive early and leave late every day: It only has to be 15 minutes early and late, but the dedication and reliability it shows is immeasurable.

2. Offer to stay late for big projects: If you see those around you or your superiors are staying late to wrap up an important project or to prepare for an important presentation the next day, offer to stay late and help. Although it may not be required (or even asked of you) the willingness to stay late and help your team greatly increases your chances of getting a raise. Even if your team doesn’t always take you up on your offer, they will remember the offer!

3. Ask for periodic mini-reviews: Monthly or bi-monthly mini, informal reviews are a wonderful way to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses in your job performance, as well as let your superiors know that you are serious about improving your performance level and doing your job to the best of your ability. These reviews will not happen unless you ask for them, so simply ask your boss “If you get a chance this week, I would love to sit down with you for just a few minutes and get your feedback on how I am doing, and if there is anything I can be doing better or differently.” This shows tremendous initiative and will take you far…but be prepared for constructive criticism!

4. Never show up late: Weather is a legitimate excuse for why some professionals are occasionally late. Snow, heavy rain, ice, etc. make morning commutes challenging for many. Don’t let it affect you…be prepared by watching evening newscasts for upcoming weather events, road closures, etc. and plan your commute time accordingly. It shouldn’t matter what the weather or road conditions…a true professional is always on time!

5. Dress professionally at all times: Don’t let trendy fashions or what your cube neighbor “gets away with wearing” dictate your wardrobe. Keep it professional, minimal jewelry, tasteful make-up and hair, and always wrinkle-free. If you look the part, your superiors will notice.

6. Volunteer for cross training: Ask to be trained on new software or business techniques; ask to attend any classes being offered both on and off campus. If you hear of a great off campus seminar that relates to your job, ask to go! Taking on new responsibilities is a very important part of earning a raise.

7. Get involved! Business social functions, softball games (you don’t have to play…just go watch!) movie nights, having lunch with your team, volunteering with a group of your co-workers; any way to get involved more with your co-workers to let them know what a team player you are.

8. Keep an eye out for information relating to your job: Whether it be a newspaper article about your biggest competitor or a magazine article relating to your particular job field, it shows great initiative if you keep an eye out for information relating to your company and pass along whatever is appropriate.

9. Be respectful and responsible in all company-wide areas: It may sound silly, but pick up after yourself in break rooms, lunch rooms, and conference rooms. Be respectful and responsible on all company grounds, and in restrooms and waiting areas. Keep your own workspace neat…it can be hard for some supervisors to see past poor personal habits.

10. ASK!! It’s hard to ask for a raise, isn’t it? A great way to ask for a raise is to approach your superior something like this: “I was wondering if we could sit down in the next couple of days/weeks and discuss ways in which I could earn a raise. I feel I am performing well and may deserve one, and I would like your opinion on my performance.” This manner asks for a raise without demanding one, and admits that although their might be ways in which improvements could be made, it’s quite possible you already deserve a raise and your superiors have just been to busy to remember the last time you got one!

Occasionally, a quality employee will run up against a “salary wall” and will be stuck in a certain pay bracket for too long. If you feel this may be your case, consider speaking with the professionals at Steffan and Co. about your situation. They can review your particular skill set and qualifications, possibly offering suggestions of employment opportunities that may earn you more money or better chances for advancement. Steffan and Co. works with the area’s premier employers and regularly places their candidates in higher paying jobs than they had previously. Give Steffan and Co., a call and find out how they can help you maximize your income potential.