Top Tips for Improving Company Morale

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Staff meetings have become a sea of slumped shoulders and dead eyes. Your calls for suggestions and feedback elicit only blank stares and uncomfortable silence. Sick days have spiked. No one volunteers for overtime. It’s become difficult to do any more than the basic office functions. Morale is becoming a problem. It may sometimes seem like the smushy-feely hobby horse of motivational speakers and self-appointed business gurus with a book to sell, but morale can have a very real impact on day-to-day operations. Bad morale leads to higher turnover and lower productivity. In short, it impacts the bottom line. Maybe… Read more »

Five Things to Avoid Talking About in Your Next Interview

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

Any social situation is a potential trap, especially when your goal is to impress strangers. The possibility exists that you’ll get overeager and attempt a joke that doesn’t land, or accidentally insult someone with an off-handed remark. A job interview multiplies this concern. You aren’t just driven by the general human desire to impress. Your future earnings depend on making a good impression. It presents an even greater temptation to stretch and say more than you should. Not just a trap, a bear trap. More than even a bear trap. It’s a dragon trap. But there are some rules you… Read more »

Don’t Burn Bridges: Learn to Quit the Right Way

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

You have a fantasy of how it will go: You’ll stand up on your desk, give a rousing speech about the incompetence of management and the uselessness of your soon-to-be-former coworkers, then you’ll drop the mic (you have a mic in this daydream for some reason) and storm out the door, maybe in slow motion, maybe with Queen’s “We Are The Champions” blasting in the background. Best to avoid any version of that a fantasy. It might be satisfying to tell off your boss or insult your least favorite coworkers on your way out the door. But, it can have… Read more »

What Does Employee Turnover Say About Your Management Style?

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

There exists a myriad of reasons why someone would leave a job, and most of them are out of a manager’s control. They can leave for more money. Well, there’s only so much in your budget. They can leave for family reason or to go back to school. Neither of those have anything to do with you. But there are departures that could have been prevented. Quirks in your management style might push certain employees out the door. If the effect gets pervasive enough, it can contribute to high turnover and lower productivity. Here are some of the flavors of… Read more »

The Best Ways to Explain a Gap in Your Resume

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

When a potential employer reviews your resume, they’re looking for clues. First and foremost, that you’re qualified for the job—but also, that they can trust you, and your work ethic. Job gaps can send up a red flag to employers that you may not be who you seem. But have no fear—many people take time off from work to raise children, take care of sick loved ones, travel, complete course work, and much more. Three ways to handle job gaps If you have job gaps on your resume, the key is to know how to position them to avoid any… Read more »

Could Phone Interviews Be the Best Way to Cut Out Bad Applicants?

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

The hiring process can be arduous. From identifying candidates, to interviewing, screening and finally extending offers—you want to take steps to be as swift as possible. Phone interviews are one way to easily weed through candidates without the time sacrifice of an in-person interview. Your interview process As a first layer to the interview process, a phone interview can help you determine if you’ll need to meet further with a candidate in person, or if they just won’t be a good fit. Some companies conduct multiple interviews depending on the position for which they’re hiring. Your interview process could include… Read more »

The Proper Way to Alert Management of Unsafe Work Conditions

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

It’s in everyone’s best interest to maintain high safety standards. First off, a good company will care enough about its employees to strive for safe working conditions, no matter the cost. But even a cynical firm, only motivated by profit, should realize that safety makes the most long-term sense. It saves on costly shutdowns and accidents, as well as avoids potential legal troubles down the road. So, if you see an unsafe condition at your work, you can usually assume the higher-ups will thank you for bringing it to their attention. You shouldn’t have to be shy about safety. In… Read more »

Interview Questions to Ask That Can Determine Reliability

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

The job search process is often long on data but short on personality. This is especially true for qualities such as reliability, which only really become clear after working with someone for a period of time. The resume provides information on education and work history, but a sense of the person is often lacking. That’s because much of the work of getting to know a candidate happens in the interview and, generally, these don’t provide a lot of time to get to know a prospect as a person. You only get a few minutes to boil down a candidate’s entire… Read more »

Mental Health: The Newest Workplace Safety Topic

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

As an employer, the push for better mental health management has taken a front seat in today’s workplace. Sometimes, mental health issues can go undetected until it’s too late, and serious consequences occur—placing the person and others in danger. Beyond extreme situations, simply helping to boost the mental well-being of your workers will help improve job satisfaction, productivity and the mood of your work environment. Five Guidelines to Improve Workers’ Mental Health You can help to make yours an inclusive and supportive work environment with the following: Keep an open door. Let your workers know they can always talk to… Read more »

Five Body Language Tips to Help You Nail Your Next Interview

Posted on by Patrick Reichert

You’ve perfected your interview skills and chosen a killer outfit—and the body language you use when meeting with an interviewer is like the cherry on the top of your interview sundae. It helps you make a good impression on a hiring manager and showcase yourself as the professional you are, plus it helps you stick in the mind of your interviewer—all good things when you’re hoping to win a new job. Five tips for positive body language Body language helps you project confidence and positive energy. And during an interview, this helps give you an edge over your competition. To… Read more »