What do you "get to" do?

I attended an event recently. It had been quite awhile since I could afford financially to pay for a ticket, and take the time to get out of the office and network with peers.

Certainly, the last year and a half were tough for the employment industry, which kept me locked up. But now the market is shifting and the confidence of employers is on the rise, leading companies to start hiring again.

I had a wonderful time at the event, doing lots of networking, seeing people I have not seen in a long time and meeting new people. It was really great to touch base with some business acquaintances that used to do business with us, or refer us, who are now beginning to hire again. It was also great to be at an event where I had the opportunity to meet some really interesting new people who had some positive insights to share.

I met a woman who works for a cause; she travels most of the time, passionately telling people about the “Free the Children” vision. This was her job! I said that it is too bad that she “has to” travel so much for her work. She said she doesn’t “have to”, she “gets to”. It was a profound statement; a profound way of looking at her job. She gave me energy and insight, and I wanted to share it with every worker out there!

You don’t “have to” do anything, you “get to”. This is Canada, and in this country we “get to” do whatever we want, really. Doesn’t that concept just change the way you think about everything?

The other thing I learned at the event was that the reason my company has survived the recession, and why we are getting busier every day, is not just because the market itself is shifting. That is one reason. But the real reason is because we have built long term, mutually beneficial and respectful relationships with our clients. We work hard and do a great job for our clients, and they appreciate that. Now that they have hiring needs again, they are calling us!

The event brought back my passion for what my company does. I am glad to be back in the game. I am glad to “get to” fill jobs for my clients, with the very best candidates.

How about you? What are you passionate about? Are you celebrating what you “get to” do at work or with the people you care about? What a magnificent mind set change!

When to use a staffing agency

Do it yourself (DIY) is certainly a buzz concept of the century. It seems as though everyone is expected to try a bit of everything through life now, right from the first piano lesson and trying every type of sport as a child. We have driven this idea through adulthood now, where we are all supposed to try everything first, then when we fail, we then hire a professional to fix our mess.

There are DIY’s for every industry now, including hiring. Employers have been taught to try to hire themselves first, and then when it doesn’t work out, they go to a staffing agency to get it done right. Personally, I try not to do the stuff that I am not an expert at doing. I would rather do things right the first time and focus my time and energy on being the best at what I do.

We get customers who trust us from the get go, who know their weaknesses and their strengths, and make the call to us to hire quickly and easily. Then there are the DIY employers who call after the disaster. So, when should an employer call a staffing agency before trying to hire on their own? When a job is temporary and the employer needs a quick fix, calling an agency is your best bet. When the job is confidential and the employer needs someone “under the radar”, a staffing agency can fill that gap.

Our industry operates confidentially because we know so much about who is looking for work, who is hiring and why, who is doing layoffs, who is making changes, and who is open to change. We get the scoop and fill confidentially for both parties, the candidates and the employers. When the job is an urgent placement, we fill it immediately! Agencies have a database of candidates to draw from quickly and efficiently, so when employers need someone right away, in any field, we are able to fill those needs. When a job opening is tough to fill, an agency can step in and recruit the right people, through our many sources and networks.

And finally, when an employer wants to hire the very best person for the job, they should call a staffing agency. We all have our niches; very few agencies fill every type of job. We are each experts at staffing the industries and positions we specialize in. We fix the DIY employers messes that they get themselves into, saving them time and energy, so they can focus on what they are experts in. We can take the job specifications and find the very best person for the job, in a cost effective, timely, and confidential manner.

Why DIY when the experts are ready to do it right the first time?

Communication in the workplace should remain formal

In the workplace, we hope men and women communicate equally, and employers treat everyone fairly, but people are people, and we have natural abilities and traits.

Generational gaps used to be evident in communication, especially regarding slang and abbreviations chosen, but that gap is not as apparent anymore. Men and women, young and old, are increasingly choosing email and text over verbal communication. Using proper grammar and punctuation is virtually unheard of these days. We all count on auto correct to fix our mistakes for us. Maybe we all got lazy? Maybe we’ve gotten used to other people or things doing the work for us? People tend to take the easy road whenever possible, both at work and at home.

In the workplace, I am still a big believer in proper wording, without the little happy faces, squiggles, symbols, and icons. Maybe I am just old fashioned, but I don’t believe in cutesy casual talk in the workplace. Work related emails, texts, phone calls, and in person conversations should include correct wording, full terms, and professional language.

Sometimes we get sidetracked at work, but multitasking is overrated when communicating. Think about how distracting it is to talk on the phone and listen, while typing at the same time. A lot of information gets missed that way and when you do not give someone your full attention, it gives the impression that you do not really care.

Body language is key, as is tone, but when we only communicate through technology these basic human functions get left out. So, at least smile when in person or when you’re on the phone. When you smile while speaking on the phone, people can feel your enthusiasm and it sounds like you really do care. Don’t be expressionless or monotone, because it will make you sound uninteresting or uninterested.

Why did I pick this career?

Some days, I just don’t know why I work here. Some days, I really don’t know why I picked this career. Why would anyone want to do this job, and have to deal with the issues, the stress, and the people I do? Does this sound like you or someone you know? I think it sounds like almost everyone.

There are a rare few who love their jobs, who bound out of bed every morning to have a great work day with coworkers they adore. I can’t really think of anyone right now, but I’m sure they exist. I wonder what it is like to sleep through the night, not waking up thinking of problems that need solving or about the people I met that day. What if I could work in a job that has no stress and where customers are happy to see me, like an ice cream shop! Everyone loves ice cream and customers are happy to pay for ice cream. I wonder what would happen if the ice cream melted or got freezer burnt?

Maybe, in my next life, I will work in a product based business, and not a service business. Oh wait, then I will have inventory issues of some sort. I could pick a career in a necessary field, which has no major issues. I could work in a grocery store or in the medical profession. I know, I could get into politics! Yes, those are some great choices with very few stressful issues. Also, I have decided I want to take my maternity leave now; the kids are 20 and 25, so I should take a year off to recover from giving birth. Oh wait, I’m a business owner, so maternity leave is not an option for me.

But if I did take a bunch of time off, I would probably miss the people I work with and what if I miss something important? What if something really cool happens, or something really funny, and I am not here? What if one of my favourite clients calls and needs to hire someone and I miss it? What if we win a big contract and I get to place all our best candidates? Or what if a client pops in to say hi and brings cookies, and I am not here to eat the cookies? Maybe I will take a day off instead, mid-week or something, so I can easily catch up on what has happened without me.