Provisional Blog

When we look at the world around us, it’s easy to focus on the negative. Between a stagnant job market and high food and gas prices, there’s a lot of uncertainty and stress out there.

But as one of the top Northwest staffing agencies, we’re actually quite optimistic about the future.

We see the many challenges we’re facing as opportunities, rather than problems. We still have a variety of clients who come to us every day in search of help with recruiting and hiring. Likewise, we have a multitude of job candidates who walk through our doors each week, in search of help finding a rewarding job opportunity.

While things certainly have changed – more and more companies are looking for more strategic and flexible staffing options, for instance – the more they stay the same. In 2011, companies still need to find good employees, and job candidates still want to land good jobs.

And when they come to us to help with those challenges, we are always grateful.

As one of the top Northwest staffing agencies, we love what we do and we are passionate about it. Whether it’s filling a last-minute temporary administrative need, sourcing skilled professionals for a mission critical position, or locating job openings that fit our candidates’ backgrounds and lives, we are committed to getting the job done and exceeding expectations.

So to our clients and candidates, we just want to say “thank you.”

Thank you for turning to us when you need help hiring or finding work, thank you to being open to our suggestions and recommendations, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to do what we love.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Confucius said: “Choose a job you’ll love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” But can doing what you love have a dark side?

If you spend all your time at work, and little time doing or thinking about anything else, then the answer could very well be “yes.”

And if that’s the case for you, you’re certainly not alone. As one of the leading staffing and employment firms in Spokane, Washington, we know that in today’s economy, more and more Americans are becoming workaholics. This is due to many different factors, one obviously being that they feel pressured to do more with less – including work more hours and take on more responsibility – at their companies.

However, some people would be workaholics regardless of the state of the economy. And while they may climb the corporate ladder faster, they could also burn out quicker and hurt their careers in the process.

So are you a workaholic, or just a hard worker? Here are some signs of workaholism.

• You think about work all the time.
• You only want to talk “shop,” even at social engagements.
• You take work with you on vacation and to bed.
• You don’t understand people who have priorities other than work.
• You can’t delegate tasks; you must remain in control.
• You live to work.

If these signs sound familiar, then it may be time for a change. Otherwise, if you continue your workaholic ways, then you could put yourself at increased risk for stress and health-related problems.

To help you achieve more balance in your life, you should:

Delegate more.

Workaholics have a hard time delegating because they have issues with control. However, realize that there are other people within your company that are competent and can take on certain tasks if you let them.

Carve out personal time.

You don’t have any issues scheduling work-related meetings and events. So treat your personal time the same way. Schedule it in and stick to setting aside a certain amount of time each week to doing something that is not work related.

Turn off your phone.

With today’s technology, it can be hard to completely disconnect from work. But it’s critically important to do so in order to attain a more balanced life. So commit to turning your cell phone off between certain times and instead, focus on your family or other activities you enjoy.

If part of your workaholism is due to a high-stress job, or an understaffed company, give us a call. As one of the leading staffing and employment firms in Spokane, Washington, we can give you access to the top jobs – and the top job candidates – in and around the city.

When you’re busy working, it’s easy to daydream about time off and all the ways you’d spend it. But if you actually have some time off from the working world – whether it’s due to a layoff or resignation – the last thing you’re probably doing is enjoying it.

Unfortunately, as one of the leading employment agencies in the Northwest, we know that many times unemployed individuals tend to go to one extreme or the other. On the one side, they’ll spend every waking minute on job boards or scouring the classifieds, searching relentlessly for Northwest jobs. On the other hand, they’ll procrastinate, and put off the job search, not wanting to deal with it or face reality. Neither approach is healthy and can cause a lot of stress in the process.

So how can you make the most of your search time, without driving yourself crazy? Here are some tips for spending your time wisely:

1. Create a “work” schedule.

Set a schedule similar to a schedule you’d have at work. Commit 30-40 hours each week to searching for new jobs. But when you’re done for the day, you’re done. Don’t keep going back to the computer every night to search for “just one more” job lead.

2. Set goals.

Set goals for yourself each day, such as the number of new leads to contact or the number of resumes you’re going to send out. That said, your goals shouldn’t be 100% focused on your job search. Now that you have the time, set a personal goal for yourself, as well. Always wanted to take a creative writing course? This is the perfect time to do it. Getting outside of your job search – and your comfort zone – can have a positive impact on your life overall and possibly even your job search directly.

3. Get moving.

Exercise not only benefits you physically, but emotionally and mentally, as well. One of the easiest ways to get moving is to find an activity that you like, whether it’s walking, biking, or basketball. You don’t have to join an expensive gym to reap the benefits of physical activity.

4. Get out there.

Don’t forget to make time for your family, friends, and social life. Now that you’ve got a more flexible schedule, meet up with friends for breakfast or lunch. Make plans to get together on the weekends. Not only will you boost your overall happiness, but you might hear about a new job lead in the process.

5. Keep perspective.

Whatever you do, try and do it with a sense of purpose, not out of stress and fear. This bad economy will eventually be behind us and soon enough you will find a job. And when that happens, you’ll probably be yearning for the days when you had more time on your hands!

If you’d like some assistance in finding a new job, give us a call. As one of the leading employment agencies in the Northwest, we can give you access to a variety of opportunities that may not be advertised elsewhere. Contact us today to learn more.

If you’ve been reading the news at all recently, you know our economy isn’t exactly the healthiest it’s ever been. But, as one of Spokane, Washington’s leading employment agencies, we know that just because the economy is still experiencing a slump, doesn’t mean you should be settling for less salary than what you’re worth.

That said, the thought of asking for a raise can certainly be an intimidating proposition. To help increase your confidence level, here are some tips to follow:

Look around you.

If your company is currently laying off employees, now may not be the best time to ask for a raise. Check back and reassess the situation in 6-12 months.

Be realistic.

What are you worth? If you don’t know, check out websites like Salary.com to see what the average salary is for people in your occupation, location, and with a similar education. You might not be worth as much as you thought – or you could be worth more. You won’t know unless you check, though.

Ask for feedback.

Do you have a couple of co-workers you’re especially comfortable with? If you do, ask them for feedback on how you come across and whether they think you deserve a raise.

Create a brag book.

Well, it doesn’t have to be an entire book. It can just be a list of your most recent – and biggest – accomplishments. Increase sales by 10% last month? Include that on the list. Get some terrific feedback from your biggest client? Put that on your list too. This is ammunition you’ll need to prove to your boss you’re worth more money.

Practice, practice, practice.

Terrified of asking your boss for a raise? Don’t worry, most people are. But the worst that can happen is your boss says “no.” So prepare yourself for that possibility. Also, to help you feel more at ease, practice exactly what you’re going to say to your boss. Make sure you think about potential objections your boss may have and how you will overcome them. For more on what to say, read our post on one small word that can help you land a promotion.

Keep it short.

While you need to sell yourself and why you deserve a raise, don’t ramble. Make your point and then let your boss respond.

Don’t get emotional.

If you’ve worked really hard and know that other companies are paying employees like you more, it can be tempting to get angry when your boss denies your request. However, it won’t do any good and it can actually harm how your boss perceives you. Instead, ask what you can do to secure a raise in the near future.

But if your boss denies your request because there isn’t room for advancement at the company, it may be time for a career move. And Provisional can help. As one of Spokane, Washington’s leading employment agencies, we can offer you access to a variety of new opportunities that are a better match for your skills, personality, and career goals.

Start your job search now.

As one of the premier employment firms in the Northwest, we certainly understand that the thought of asking your boss for a promotion can be terrifying. After all, in this economy, shouldn’t you be happy to just have a job?

But if you’ve been taking on more and more responsibility at work, are a long-time asset to the company, and feel like you’re ready – and deserve to – move up the company ladder, then by all means go for it.

With that said, getting promoted isn’t as simple as just asking for it. You first need to sell your boss on the idea and why you deserve it. And you can do that by using one small word: Because.

“Because” forces you to think about the actual reasons why you deserve a promotion. It also gives you the facts you need to get your boss on board with it. Your boss isn’t monitoring your every move and so may not know about all your recent successes and accomplishments. It’s up to you to toot your own horn.

For example, rather than just saying “I’ve worked really hard, so feel I deserve a promotion” instead say “I deserve a promotion because I consistently bring in new clients to the company. As a result, sales have increased by 10%.”

To help you prepare for the big “ask,” here are some additional tips:

• Schedule a meeting with your boss and let him or her know you want to discuss your job performance. Don’t just drop by unannounced.
• Write down all of your recent achievements and successes, from a positive comment from a customer to landing a big new client. Bring your list with you to the meeting.
• Research what you’re worth in the job marketplace; also bring those statistics with you to the meeting.
• Besides talking about your past accomplishments, tell your boss how you plan to build on them in the future, and how doing so will benefit your boss and the company as a whole.

If the boss says no to a promotion, inquire why and what you can do to get promoted.

And if there’s simply no room for advancement at your company, and you’re ready to move on, Provisional can help. As one of the premier employment firms in the Northwest, we can help you locate the position that best matches your skills and interests. Search jobs now.

Clearly skills and intelligence are important to succeed in almost any job. Being a team player and getting your work done are also critically important, as well.

But what is really the #1 secret to on-the-job success?

Strong relationships; strong relationships with your co-workers, to be more specific.

Think about it. When you’re in a jam at work, who do you turn to? It’s probably not your boss. When you want to bounce an idea off of someone, where do you go? Again, you’re probably not pounding your boss’s door down to deliver your half-baked idea for process improvements.

Instead, you’re going to seek out help or advice from your co-workers – but first you need to develop a strong relationship with them. Here’s how:

Share what you know.

You and your co-workers come from different backgrounds and bring different experiences and contacts to the table. For instance, perhaps you used to work in another company department and know exactly who Deb down the hall needs talk to about ordering a new software program that will help make her job easier. Share that knowledge with her.

Treat everyone with respect.

This doesn’t mean you have to be a pushover or a “yes” man or woman. It just means that you should treat all your co-workers with respect and dignity. So the next time Mike from Sales has another dumb idea and you want to blurt out, “wow, that was stupid,” hold your tongue; then take a more diplomatic approach.

Go to happy hour.

At the end of a long week, you may simply want to head home rather than go to happy hour with your co-workers. But go anyway. Don’t get drunk and obnoxious. Just try to get to know your co-workers on a more personal level. Not only will you become closer, but you’ll learn about what makes each one tick. As a result, you’ll be able to develop a more productive relationship with them.

Don’t play the blame game.

Though it can be tempting, know that blaming others will simply alienate them and you’ll probably still look like you’re at fault. So own up to mistakes and don’t rat out co-workers, even if they played a small part in the error. Otherwise, you’ll create enemies, not friends.

Do share the glory.

Sharing credit with your co-workers is almost guaranteed to strengthen your workplace relationships. So even if you did most of the work, when your boss is congratulating you, tell him or her you couldn’t have done it without help from Tim in Accounting and Julie in Research for all their number crunching and data gathering.

If you feel like you can’t develop strong relationships with co-workers because you’re in a work environment that’s unhealthy and unproductive, it might be time for a more rewarding opportunity. Provisional can help. As one of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho’s leading employment firms, we work with some of the top employers in the area and can give you access to opportunities that aren’t always advertised.

Take a look at our most recent hot jobs to get started.

A job interview with one person is stressful enough. But when you have to interview with an entire panel of people, it can be downright terrifying. At times, you might even feel like you’re facing the firing squad.

But have no fear.

As one of the leading employment firms in Spokane, Washington, we understand that this interviewing situation is certainly more intense; but panel interviewers are simply looking for the same thing as an individual interviewer – they want to hire the strongest candidate possible.

In addition, keep in mind that the employer is not conducting a panel interview to torture you; they are probably doing so because there are a number of people involved in the hiring decision and a panel interview is more convenient than scheduling several separate interviews.

So who can you expect to be at the interview?

It will likely be a mix of different people, and could include the company CEO, an HR manager, and your prospective supervisor. It’s wise to call your contact at the company ahead of time and ask the names and titles of the people who will be at the interview. That way, you can read about them on the company website or search online for information about who they are and what they do. You’ll feel better prepared and more in control of the situation if you know whom you’re facing.

When it comes to preparing for the interview, don’t stop there.

Just like for any other interview, do some research on the company ahead of time. Read through their website, see if they have a company profile on LinkedIn or Facebook, and Google the company’s name so you can learn about any important news related to the company or the industry. Also be sure to develop a list of thoughtful questions you’d like to know about the company, its culture, and the actual job opening.

With so many eyes on you, if you make a mistake, at least one of the interviewers is bound to notice. So following proper interview etiquette is especially important with panel interviews. That means greeting each interviewer individually. Smile, make eye contact and shake hands with each one. Also, when you’re speaking during the interview, try not to focus on any one individual. Even though one interviewer asked the question, all the interviewers are interested in your answer.

And your work isn’t done once the interview is over. Read about the 5 action steps you must take after your job interview.

If you’re looking for help in landing some interviews, let us know. At Provisional, we’re one of the leading employment firms in Spokane, Washington, and since 1994 we’ve placed more than 6,000 professionals with area companies. We can help place you too! Contact us today to learn more.

We’ve all had to deal with a difficult co-worker at one time or another. But what if that co-worker is actively trying to sabotage you at work? Trying to make you look bad, so they get promoted instead of you? Or worse yet, trying to get you fired?

If you have a co-worker who’s trying to hurt your career, here are some tips to deal with the situation – and help you come out ahead:

Confront your co-worker.

When confronting your co-worker, don’t operate on emotion. Be as diplomatic as possible, making an honest effort to communicate with them and trying to see their side of the situation. Your co-worker might ease up and shift focus; however, it’s possible you might instead be met with more accusations or even total denial.

If this happens, try to keep it professional. No matter how annoyed you are by their behavior or how tempting it can be to get into a verbal fistfight, it’s not productive and it may even put you in a negative light.

If you’re in a meeting and your co-worker says something untrue about you, attempting to cast doubt on your abilities, address it immediately. Respond with logic and facts, not emotion, by saying something like, “that’s simply not true. I actually completed this, this, and this.”

Communicate via email and document everything.

If your co-worker tells you something verbally about a project you’re working on together, then send them an email confirming what they said and ask for a response. This way you have a clear paper trail of your conversations, whether they’re in person or via email…and you have the documentation to back yourself up in case you need it.

Take it up with your boss.

Your boss is busy and likely doesn’t want to get involved in office politics. However, if there is a true smear campaign going on, then you need to defend yourself. When talking with your boss, be prepared to discuss specific behaviors of your co-worker and what you’ve done to try to deal with the situation.

Keep your boss in the loop on your progress.

Meet once a week or every other week with your boss to quickly discuss the status of your projects. This doesn’t need to be a long, in-depth meeting. You just want your boss to hear what you’re doing from you – not your co-worker.

Be positive and stay confident.

Don’t let a conspiring co-worker undermine your confidence. Try to stay positive; don’t whine and complain about your co-worker to anyone who will listen. Go on the offensive and take action. Go the extra mile and work hard. And keep demonstrating your value to your boss.

Hopefully, with the tips above, you can work to diffuse the situation and develop a mutually respectful work relationship. However, if that’s not possible, and you’re ready to move on in your career, check out our posting about conducting a secret job search.

If you’d like some hands-on assistance, Provisional can help there too. As one of the top employment agencies in the Northwest, we work with leading companies throughout the region and beyond, and can help you find an employer that best matches your skills and interests.

Contact us today to learn more!

You’ve probably heard many times before that you should customize your resume for each job opening you’re applying for, whether it’s a variety of temporary jobs or a full-time one. The problem with this approach is that after spending hours – or even days – crafting the perfect resume, the last thing you want to do is spend more time customizing it.

But if you make some relatively simple modifications, you’ll likely get better results in the form of more interviews. To help you, here are 5 easy ways you can customize your resume and make it stand out:

1. Speak the same language as the job posting.

For instance, if the job posting calls for a “team player that can contribute innovative ideas,” then your resume should state that you’re a team player that has contributed innovative ideas. Be sure to give a specific example of an idea and the results it achieved.

2. Think about the order.

One job opening might require strong organizational skills, while another job opening might require leadership abilities. For each, you’ll want those respective skills to be highlighted first under your various job titles. So you may need to move bullet points around when customizing your resume.

3. Think about relevancy.

Not every item on your original resume will be valuable for every job opening. So if an item has zero relevancy for a particular position, then take it out. If you held multiple positions at one company, try to condense them or just feature the most significant job. Keep in mind, you want hiring managers to be reading the highlights of your career that pertain to the specific job opening.

4. Add some new details.

For instance, if the position you’re applying for is at a non-profit, and you do volunteer work at a local non-profit, then include that information on your resume. Why? It will give you an edge over your competitors who don’t have any non-profit experience.

5. Be honest.

Sometimes job postings will list skills or qualifications that you don’t have, which is o.k. Just don’t lie about having those skills, thinking it will help your chances. Instead, work on focusing and playing up the similarities between the job’s requirements and your background.

If you have any questions about customizing your resume, or would like some help landing job interviews, Provisional can help. As an employment firm in Spokane, Washington, we can give you access to a variety of opportunities, from temporary jobs that offer a more flexible schedule, to full-time positions at some of the city’s leading companies.

Search hot jobs in Spokane, Washington now >

Parents typically teach their kids to be kind, cooperative, and forgiving. But are these traits that could actually hinder people in their jobs? For most, the answer is “yes.” In fact, according to the book “Nice Guys Can Get the Corner Office,” an overwhelming 61% of Americans think that niceness can impede success on the job.

So why is that? There are a variety of reasons, including:

Being too nice can impact your ability to stand up for yourself.

Whether in salary negotiations or a project meeting, being too nice can cause you to keep your mouth shut so that you don’t “rock the boat.” As a result, you may not get recognized for jobs you’ve completed successfully, other people may not take you seriously, and they may even take advantage of your niceness.

Being too nice can impact your ability to make effective decisions.

People who are too nice at work can face career derailment because they have a “can’t we all just get along?” attitude. They generally don’t like confrontation and difficult work situations, and therefore tend to avoid them at all costs. This highly cooperative attitude may be fine when you’re just starting out or early on in your career, but as you’re moving up, it can impact your ability to make tough choices and be viewed as an effective leader.

Being too nice can impact your ability to manage employees.

This tendency to avoid confrontation isn’t just a problem in decision-making. It also becomes a problem when trying to manage employees. For instance, if one of your employees isn’t performing well, it’s your job to confront that person, offer constructive feedback, and work with them to develop a plan for improvement. This can be a challenging position to be in for someone who simply wants to be well-liked.

With all that said, you don’t need to be mean and overly aggressive in order to get ahead at work. In fact, just like being overly nice, those traits too can also negatively impact your career.

Instead, it takes a balanced approach to move ahead in your job.

For instance, it’s a good thing to be cooperative, as long as that attitude is balanced with the ability to stand up for yourself and your opinions when necessary. It’s also good to be trusting of others, but when someone throws you under the bus, you need to confront them in order to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

And if you’re ready to advance your career with a new job in the Northwest, Provisional can help. As a one of the leading Northwest employment firms, we work with many of the region’s leading employers and can help you find a job that’s a great fit for you.

Get started on your new job search now.>