Provisional Blog

Getting promoted to manager is certainly a big accomplishment. But as one of the leading Spokane staffing firms, we know that almost every new manager makes some big mistakes along the way. So what are they – and how can you avoid them? Here’s a look at 6 of them:

1. Being a “know it all.”

This is probably one of the most irritating offenses to employees. Just because you’re the boss, doesn’t mean you know everything. In fact, your employees probably know a lot too and it would be in your best interest to regularly ask them for their feedback and advice.

2. Micromanaging…everyone and everything.

First of all, if you micromanage, you’re going to burn out quickly and frustrate your employees along the way. While it’s certainly understandable that you feel the pressure to help your team succeed, your employees will quickly turn against you if you micromanage everything they do. Instead, set clear expectations, goals, and timelines, but then give your employees enough autonomy to perform their jobs.

3. Not giving enough direction.

On the flip side of micromanaging is not giving enough direction. Your employees need to have a clear understanding of what you’re trying to accomplish and what they need to do to help you get there. So again, it’s important to define expectations and goals, as well as discuss how success will be measured. Ask them questions about how they will complete the work so that you know they understand the task and offer them some tips and advice for getting the job done.

4. Changing things too quickly.

Just because you’re the new boss, doesn’t mean you need to step in and change everything, especially if what’s being done is currently working well. You may be tempted to change things so they run “your way,” but remember that just because something is done differently than the way you’d do it, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

5. Not getting to know your team members.

Now that you’re the boss, your biggest and most important task is to manage your employees. But how can you effectively do that if you don’t really know them at all? By getting to know them on a more personal level, you’ll better be able to understand what motivates them.

6. Avoiding problems.

Nobody really likes problems…or problem employees, for that matter. But issues will escalate if you don’t deal with them right away. And in fact, as the boss, it’s now your job to face those problems head on and develop solutions. Otherwise, you could be in hot water.

Now that you’re the boss, you have a lot more responsibility on your plate. But by avoiding the mistakes above, you can effectively manage your people and put yourself on the path to success.

And if one of your new responsibilities is hiring, please contact Provisional. As one of the leading staffing firms in Spokane, we can help you every step of the way, from sourcing and recruiting, to screening, interviewing, testing, verifying backgrounds, and salary negotiations.

The hiring process can be both long and tedious. And some Spokane companies are at a loss of where to even begin. But, when it comes to staffing, time is of the essence and you need to have an efficient process in place to find the people you need, when you need them. So, with that said, here are 7 tips for streamlining your company’s hiring process:

1. Create a job posting that is both clear and concise. Include a job title, job responsibilities, and requirements in terms of education and background. Also be sure to include a clear call to action.

2. If you do employ job boards to find candidates, try to use ones that are focused on your particular industry or niche. The last thing you want is to get hundreds of irrelevant resumes from unqualified people. So try to be as targeted as possible in terms of where you place your job posting.

3. Create an interview schedule. Develop a timeframe in which you’d like to screen resumes, interview candidates, and make a final hiring decision. If multiple people are going to be interviewing candidates, then make sure everyone can be present at the set interview times so candidates don’t have to come back (unless it’s for a second interview).

4. Be prepared to hire a great candidate. You may be surprised if one of the first candidates who walks through your door seems like a great fit. You may even want to hold off on an offer until you interview a number of other candidates. But if that person checks out and has solid references, then don’t let him or her go. They may be offered another opportunity while you’re busy interviewing other candidates.

5. It’s not all about you. A great candidate has to want to work for your firm before they will accept an offer – and it’s your job to sell your company to them. So what makes you unique? Why should they want to work for you?

6. Evaluate other communications. If, after the interview, you exchanged emails with a candidate, was the correspondence clear and professional? Did they do a good job of conveying what they can bring to the table?

7. Get help from a Spokane staffing firm. Don’t be afraid to connect with a staffing firm to get help with the hiring process. You can save both time and money by using a firm who has expertise in recruiting, screening, interviewing, and testing so that you can simply select from the top few candidates.

If you’d like to learn more, please contact Provisional. As a full-service staffing firm in Spokane, we can help you find the specialized talent you need – quickly and affordably.

You just got word that your bid was accepted for a huge new project in Spokane. But now you’re worried that you don’t have the necessary staff in place to get the job done. What can you do?

Consider contract staffing.

Contract staffing offers an effective strategy for controlling costs, reducing risk, and accessing the specialized skills you need to complete your project.

When to Use Contract Staffing

Contract staffing is ideal when:

• You need a very specific skill set on a temporary basis
• Your organizational capacity is strained
• You need help for a limited amount of time
• You don’t have time for a full recruiting effort
• Your turnaround time for a project is tight

Benefits of Contract Staffing

• Tap into specialized skills fast. You can gain access to the expert you need almost immediately.

• Eliminate risk. You don’t have to worry about things like payroll taxes, unemployment benefits, liability insurance, and workers compensation since the contractor works for the Spokane staffing firm, not for you.

• Try before you buy. You’ll be able to try out talent on a contract basis; if things go well, you may want to consider hiring the contractor full time.

• No fixed costs. There are no fixed costs associated with a contract employee. Once the project is complete, simply release the individual.

If you need contract help to complete an important project, please contact Provisional. We have relationships with a variety of technical contract professionals who can help fulfill your project staffing needs.