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).
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
You can't fix dumb
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.
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.
Friday, February 6, 2009
STOP! Watching the news or reading the paper...
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.
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.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Tenure, or "How Long Have I Been Here?"
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?
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!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Five Ways To Secure a Better Raise
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Give An Agency A Chance
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.
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.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Objectives Bring Objections
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.
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