Provisional Blog

As a Spokane employment agency, we understand that being unemployed for a long period of time is stressful and scary. But if you accept a job offer amidst a flood of warning signs – just to rejoin the workforce – you could be in trouble. In fact, you’ll likely wind up unhappy, unproductive, and back on the job hunt in no time flat. We’ve seen it happen before.

Instead, when you’re searching for a new job, you should be looking for one that’s a good fit for your skills and personality. And you should also always be on the lookout for these 5 red flags:

1. A step down.

Be cautious if a potential employer wants you to take a big step down. Not only will this hurt your career, but it will also impact your quality of life. You’ll likely be making less money doing work that isn’t rewarding or is flat out boring for you. What’s more is that in the future, a prospective employer looking at your resume will question your wisdom in accepting a big demotion from a previous position.

With that said, if taking a small step back in your career will help you land a job at a Spokane firm you’ve always wanted to work for and there’s room for career growth, by all means, go for it. The bottom line is that it’s important to look at the big picture when planning your next career move.

2. An immediate offer.

If an employer makes you an offer on the spot, at your first interview, be wary. You may have knocked their socks off with your impressive skills; or they may be experiencing high turnover and be desperate to fill the position. If you’re uncertain, ask them questions about their turnover rate and how many jobs they currently have open or unfilled.

3. Vague answers.

To truly assess whether a job and an employer are a good fit for you, you should be asking lots of questions during the interview. But if the interviewer is giving you vague answers in return, that could be a sign of trouble. They could be trying to conceal a problem with the company or the fact that the job opening isn’t really what it seems to be. Reputable employers will give you clear and specific answers to your questions about their company and the job opening.

4. 11th hour changes.

If you’ve verbally accepted a job offer and the employer wants to make changes right before you sign a contract, this could be an indication of what’s to come in the future if you do accept the job – unpredictability and frustration.

5. Gut feelings.

When you leave a job interview, you will probably have a good sense of whether the job is right for you or not. Either you’ll feel a sense of elation at the prospect of landing the position, or a sense of doom at the thought of being offered the position. If it’s the latter, then go with your gut. Too often, candidates accept positions that they know aren’t right for them just so they can get back to work – only to wind up miserable in the end.

And if you need help finding a job that you love, please contact Provisional. We are an experienced and award-winning Spokane employment agency that has put more than 20,000 people to work since 1994. Contact us today – and you could be next!

When you started your Spokane job, it seemed ideal – you were happy, motivated, and inspired. But now the honeymoon is over and you’re just not satisfied. Workdays seem longer and weekends seem to go by faster. So what can you do to reignite your career passion and improve your job satisfaction? Here are five quick tips:

Tip #1: Pinpoint the problem.

Why exactly are you unhappy at work? Are you having problems with a co-worker or your boss? Are you unhappy about working conditions or your salary? Once you pinpoint the problem, you’ll have a better idea how to deal with it.

Tip #2: Don’t be afraid to ask.

Is there an easy fix to whatever is bothering you at work? If yes, then ask for it! What are you waiting for?! Nobody at work is a mind reader and so taking that first step is up to you.

Tip #3: Stay positive.

Ever hear about the power of positive thinking? Changing your attitude about your Spokane job won’t make things better overnight. However, developing a more optimistic point of view (i.e. the glass is half full) and reversing negative self talk patterns can go a long way in making you feel more productive and less stressed at work.

Tip #4: Maintain balance in your life.

When all you do is work, work, work, it’s only natural that your stress level is going to increase and you’re going to be unhappier as a result. It’s time to assess your situation and determine which areas you don’t have enough time for, such as family/relationships, hobbies, and exercise. Now create a priorities list and take action so that your lifestyle better reflects your interests and becomes more balanced.

Tip #5: Re-evaluate your goals.

If you’re feeling unfulfilled at work, perhaps your goals and your job requirements are out of alignment. It’s time to figure out what your career goals are and how you see yourself getting there. For instance:

• Are you in field you want to stay in for the next 5, 10, or 20 years?
• If not, what would you rather be doing?
• Where do you want to be, career wise, in the next 5, 10, 20 years?

The answers to these questions should give you a general idea of what you want out of your work life. And if you want to make a major change, now is the time to do it.

Job satisfaction isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. And the bottom line is that it’s up to you to make that journey. If you’re not happy at work, there are actions you can take now to help you become more satisfied. However, if you’re completely in the wrong job at the wrong company, it may be time for a change. If so, we can help. As a leading employment agency in Spokane, WA, Provisional can give you access to a variety of exciting job opportunities in Spokane. If you’d like to learn more about us, simply visit our website or contact Provisional online.

As a Spokane employment agency, we know that balancing the right amount of staff with workflow can be a difficult task. Some companies hire too many employees, wasting thousands of dollars, while other companies are understaffed, which leads to employee burnout and less productivity.

So how do you know when it’s the right time to hire? Ask yourself these questions:

• Over the past few months, how many times have I had to extend deadlines in order to meet demand or complete a project?
If you answered “every day,” or “every week,” then you may be understaffed.

• How many times have employees called in sick over the past month?
If you’ve noticed a recent rise in sick days among your staff, it may be due to stress and burnout. Your employees could be over-worked and over-tired because they are trying to do too much.

• Have your employees taken advantage of their time off and vacation days?
Many times, in a bad economy, employees become fearful of taking any time off. They think their employer will see it as “slacking” and they will therefore be the next person on the chopping block. But this can lead to burnout and less productivity. So encourage your employees to take an appropriate amount of time off.

• Are your overtime costs consistently on the rise?
Another sign that you are understaffed is rising overtime costs. It means simply that you don’t have enough employees to get the work done during the workday.

• Have you had to turn down new business ventures or opportunities because you don’t have the right talent?
If you don’t have employees on staff with the skills you need to take on new opportunities, then you’re going to lose your competitive edge.

• How much are you using temporary or contract employees?
If you are consistently using temporary employees for the same tasks in the same departments, it may be time to consider hiring a full-time staff member to perform those tasks.

• Are you implementing ideas from your business plan or marketing strategy?
If not, then lack of time and energy may be to blame. There’s a reason you create a plan and goals for your business each year, and if you’re not able to execute those plans or meet those goals because you have too much to do, then it may be time to hire additional staff.

By asking yourself the above questions, you should now have a better idea about whether or not you need to hire more people. If you have any questions – or are looking to hire more temporary or full-time employees – please contact Provisional. As a premier Spokane employment agency, we can take on the task of sourcing, screening, and hiring, so you can focus on other priorities, like running your business.