Provisional Blog

If you’re searching for a new job in the Northwest and haven’t had much luck, it’s normal to feel stressed out. Job searches are tough and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. So in an economy where it takes anywhere from six to 12 months – or longer – to find a new job, what can you do to stay positive and motivated? Here are 5 tips to help you:

Tip #1. Create goals.

Just like if you were on a diet, set small daily goals and celebrate your accomplishments. So, for instance, rather than sending out dozens of resumes to every single job opening in your field in the Northwest, take a more thoughtful approach. Each day, target two employers that you’d like to work for. Learn all you can about them and try to find out the name of someone in HR or in the department you’d like to work in. Use tools like LinkedIn and Google to help in your search. Then send each a letter or an email explaining who you are and how you can help them.

Tip #2. Keep your job search organized.

With all the data you’re sending out and getting back, it can be hard to keep track of your progress – unless you’re organized. To get organized, create a spreadsheet where you write down who you sent your resume to, when you sent it, what response you got, when you followed up, who you followed up with, etc. On your spreadsheet, also keep track of any job leads or referrals you’ve gotten through networking and the status of each.

Tip #3. Get out of the house.

Staying in your bathrobe all day at home is a surefire recipe for depression. So get out of the house and conduct your job search in a different environment. Go to the library or a bookstore to do some research. Or call a friend or former colleague who can give you some good job search advice over lunch.

Tip #4. Keep busy.

When you don’t have a whole lot to do, it can be easy to spend your hours sitting in front of the TV or the computer. But it’s important that you keep yourself busy with activities or hobbies outside of your job search. For instance, if you always wanted to write a book or you’d like to volunteer at a local non-profit, now’s the time. In addition to being more productive, you’ll also be able to say that you did something worthwhile during your hiatus from work in future job interviews.

Tip #5. Connect with an employment agency.

If you feel like you’re doing everything right and still not getting any results, it could be time to connect with a Northwest employment agency. Not only can an employment agency ensure your resume and interviewing skills are up to par, but they can also give you access to job opportunities that many times aren’t advertised elsewhere.

If you’d like to get help with your job search from a leading Northwest employment agency, please contact Provisional. We can help you beat your job search blues and put you well on your way to finding a great new position!

The competition in the Northwest job market can be fierce. That means there’s no room for error. Unfortunately, even the most careful applicants can make mistakes that could cost them the job offer. What are they – and how can you avoid them? Keep these mistakes in mind for a better chance at winning that job.

1. Typos on your resume or in your cover letter.

Typos may seem trivial to you, but, as a Northwest employment agency, we can tell you that they make a sloppy first impression. The last thing you want is your resume to end up in the trash because you misspelled one word, especially if it’s a Northwest job that you’d be a terrific fit for. So before hitting the “Send” button, proofread everything. Better yet, ask someone else to proofread your cover letter and resume for you. When you’ve been reading the same thing over and over, it’s easy to miss typos.

2. Including too much fluff in your cover letter and resume.

It’s o.k. to talk about your strong work ethic and drive to deliver. But back that claim up with specific examples. Hiring managers are looking for results, not rhetoric.

3. Arriving late.

Arriving at an interview late is a good way to lose out on the job offer. Granted, the interviewer may look past this one faux pas if you have a good reason, but you’ll also be under much more scrutiny as a result. To avoid this situation, give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview location. Account for things like bad weather, traffic, and construction.

4. Not preparing for your interview.

Before your interview, you should have researched the company, developed a list of questions you have about the company and the position, and prepared your answers to some commonly asked interview questions. If you don’t prepare thoroughly, it shows. Trust us. It also gives off the impression that you’re not really interested in the job.

5. Talking too much during the interview.

Whether it’s due to nerves, or an uncertainty as to how much information to offer, some candidates talk way too much – and end up shooting themselves in the foot. So keep your answers short, sweet, and targeted to the question the interviewer asked.

6. Talking too little during the interview.

On the other hand, some candidates don’t seem to want to talk at all, only offering “yes” or “no” answers. This is your opportunity to sell yourself to the interviewer, so don’t be afraid to clearly state your achievements and why you’d be a good fit for the position.

7. Dressing inappropriately.

Not dressing the part is another good way to miss out on the offer. When you’re dressing for the interview, think conservative, polished, and well-groomed.

And if you need some help finding a job in the Northwest, please contact Provisional. As an experienced employment agency, we work with some of the leading employers in the region and can help you find a position that’s a great match for you.

It’s important that you carefully prepare for each and every job interview you have. Good preparation includes creating a list of questions that you want to ask the job interviewer. That said, there are some questions you should definitely avoid. Here are five:

Question #1. What does your organization do?

If you prepared for the Northwest job interview, you should already know what the company does. Before going to the interview, you should have researched the company online and learned about who they are and what they do. So asking a broad question about what the company does simply makes you sound unprepared.

Question #2. Can I transfer to a different position?

This question is another major no-no. This basically says to the interviewer: “I know this job isn’t right for me, but I’ll take it anyway.” The bottom line is that if a job isn’t right for you, you’re probably not going to be successful in it. So be honest with the interviewer if you think that’s the case. And if you’re interviewing with a Northwest company you really want to work for, let the interviewer know that too (i.e. “I’ve been following your company’s performance in the news and am so impressed with your recent initiatives, but I just don’t think this particular position is right for me.”). If you’ve made a good impression, the interviewer might keep you in mind for future job opportunities.

Question #3. How long before I can get a raise?

You’re asking for a raise before even getting the job?! A more diplomatic way to get the information you’re after is to ask the interviewer if the company conducts performance and salary reviews each year.

Question #4. I have a health issue. Do you think it would be covered under the company’s insurance policy?

First of all, by asking this question, you’re sending the message that you’re not so much interested in the Northwest job, as you are in the benefits that go along with it. Secondly, the interviewer probably doesn’t know off the top of their head what’s covered and what’s not covered in the company’s insurance policy. Instead of asking this question during an interview, wait until the job offer has been extended to you. Then, before you accept, ask to learn more about the company’s benefits program, including health insurance.

Question #5. Do I have to undergo a background check?

Asking this question makes it look like you have something to hide. If you’re trying to learn more about the selection process, then ask that question directly. If you really do have something to hide and the employer requires a background check, then expect your “secret” to surface. There isn’t a lot you can do to keep a black mark on your record under wraps. But you can mitigate its impact by offering full disclosure. Negative information that is honestly revealed and discussed by you is less harmful than if it is discovered during a background check.

And if you need help landing interviews for a job in the Northwest, then please contact Provisional. For over 16 years, our Northwest employment agency has been placing professionals with great companies in temporary, temp-to-hire, and full-time positions.

Whether or not to include references when submitting your resume is up for debate. Some say to always include references, while others say to send them along only if requested.

As an employment agency in Couer d’Alene, Idaho, we think it’s a good idea to include references when submitting a resume. If you have strong ones, it certainly can’t hurt, whether the prospective employer requested them or not.

Also, rather than just including references on your resume, consider creating a reference page. A separate page for references has been found to be more effective than putting references right on your resume.

So how do you create a reference page? Here are some tips:

• First, brainstorm who you want to include as a reference. Your references should not be family and friends; they should be colleagues, and, even better, managers with whom you’ve worked in the past. You should include at least three professional references.

• With that said, you may also want to include a couple of personal references. Again, a personal reference should not be your spouse or your dad. Instead, a good example of a personal reference is someone you volunteer with or volunteered with in the past or who you sit on a community board with.

• Once you’ve decided on your list of references, contact them to make sure it’s ok to include them as references. Make sure they know that a prospective employer may be in touch to discuss your background. This will give them time to formulate what they want to say.

• Next, create a document separate from your resume, where you list these references. Include your reference’s name, job title, company, phone, and email. Also include what capacity you worked with the reference in (i.e. was this person a co-worker or a manager?). In addition, put your strongest reference first since the interviewer may only contact one or two references.

If you’re looking for a new job and need help creating your reference page, or your resume, please contact Provisional. As a premier employment agency serving Couer d’Alene and the Northwest, we can give you access to a variety of resources and opportunities. Contact us today to learn more.

Rightsizing. Downsizing. Whatever you want to call it, eliminating employees can be an unpleasant proposition. While layoffs are sometimes a necessary business strategy, there are some cost-saving steps you can take to reduce your overhead – and the likelihood you’ll have to cut staff.

Step 1:
Decrease Hours Worked
Think about offering a four-day work week, or ask your staff to trade some pay for extra time off.

Step 2:
Reduce Wages
Consider asking your employees to take a temporary cut in their pay.

Step 3:
Allow Attrition
When an employee retires or leaves the company, assign their tasks to your existing employees, rather than hiring a new person.

Step 4:
Support Leaves of Absence
Let employees take leaves of absence with full benefits for a certain time period. Tell them they’ll have a job when they return, but it may not be the same job with the same pay.

Step 5:
Limit Overtime
Place limitations on the amount of overtime an employee is allowed to work. Also, consider hiring temporary employees if you have a sudden rise in demand, which can oftentimes be less expensive than overtime.

Step 6:
Offer Early Retirement
Offer an early retirement package to eligible employees.

Step 7:
Freeze Hiring
Don’t bring on additional staff until you feel like things have stabilized. If you do need some extra help, consider temporary staffing instead.

Step 8:
Create a Shared Ownership Plan
Let employees trade in some of their pay for company stock.

Step 9:
Allow Job Sharing
Let two or more full-time employees convert to part-time and share a position.

Step 10:
Temporary Staffing
Use temporary staffing to meet rises in demand without having to pay overtime or hire more full-time staff.

As a Northwest employment agency, we’ve helped many companies throughout the region avoid laying off full-time employees through the use of temporary, strategic staffing. If you’re in a position where lay offs seem imminent, please contact Provisional. We may be able to help.