The Bagg Group Blog

 A new year brings in the promise of a fresh start.  If you are carrying over a job search from 2010, re-invigorate your search by starting the year off by doing at least one thing differently.

For example, move a dreaded task necessary for your job search in the GTA from the bottom of your to-do list to the top.

We all share a tendency to avoid those tasks which are out of our comfort zone. But research shows that it’s more energizing to get those activities out of the way than to have them hang over your head all day. 

And as you change the time, change your perspective.  With 40 years of successfully finding candidates full-time work, contract work and part-time placements, recruiters at The Bagg Group offer these tried and true tips for how to rethink two commonly disliked tasks.   

1) The covering letter:

If you dislike writing a covering letter, do it first thing in the morning, and think of your letter as a puzzle.

Some people actually make the activity into a puzzle.  Here’s how it works:

• Write out each point you wish to make as a sentence. 
• Cut out each sentence.
• Re-read the ad to determine the organization’s order of priority for the skills and experience it is seeking.
• Move your sentences around to try and match the organization’s list of priorities.

In this way by your coffee break, you’ll have a terrific first draft for your letter.  And even better, you may find yourself so engaged in your puzzle, you won’t notice that you’re actually composing a letter. 

2) The call to network

For many job seekers, making a call to former colleagues or contacts to network can be more uncomfortable than root canal.   

About 40% of us are shy, according to Bernardo Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute at Indiana State University.   His advice: Don’t focus on your request for help with your job search, just put your focus on being nice.

In an interview with Penelope Trunk, author of The Brazen Careerist, Professor Carducci said, “Shy people need to be more other-focused and less self-focused. Think about what you can do for the other person. Shy people worry that their opening comment will not be smart enough or witty enough, so they never get started. Instead, remember that when initiating contact you don’t need to be brilliant, you just need to be nice.”  

And you are “nice” when you show you are genuinely interested in the person with whom you are speaking.  It doesn’t take more than that to establish good connections.

When offices shut down for the holidays, it’s your cue to do the most important thing you can do at this time.  Take a mental break.

Recruiters at The Bagg Group know that job-hunters can spend statutory holidays fretting. We also hear how about how many don’t look forward to gatherings with friends and family they haven’t seen for a while because they dread being asked, “Do you have job yet?” 

Here’a tip for how to answer that question.  Tell whoever asks that right now you are working – you are doing planning, marketing, and sales to find a position that is right for you.  But for today, your office is closed.

We all need a time-off from whatever it is we are working on, and that includes seeking a full-time job, contract work, or temporary placement in the GTA. 

Creativity experts say sometimes it is when you stop thinking about your goals for awhile that you come up with great ideas out of the blue.

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the best-seller Eat, Love, Pray is a case in point.  When she hit writer’s block, she turned off her computer and put all her energies into gardening.   She wrote in Oprah magazine that, “quite suddenly, out of nowhere—I realized exactly how to fix my book. I washed my hands, returned to my desk, and within three months I’d completed the final version of Committed—a book that I now love.  Gardening, in other words, had turned me back into a writer.”

So when there’s nobody there to read your email or return your call, give yourself the best gift you can this time of year…a time-out to recharge your batteries.   With 40 years of placing candidates with the best companies in the GTA, we can assure job-seekers that a holiday spent doing something you love will pay-off in renewed energy for the new year.

From all of us at The Bagg Group, happy holidays.

At The Bagg Group, we love a good story as much as anyone else.  But this December, it’s time for us to debunk the three greatest myths of the month:

1.  Poinsettias are poison for humans.  Not according to the Minnesota Poison Control which promises these Christmas plants don’t kill.

2.   Boxing Day was born of the urge to return gifts of scratchy too-small sweaters as fast as possible.  In fact, its origin is an old-time British practice of giving boxes of food to employees. 

3.  There’s no point looking for full-time positions, contract work or temporary work in the GTA in December.  That’s just not true!  A bowl of candy canes at the reception desk doesn’t mean all work stops.

Recruiters at The Bagg Group are setting the record straight with these true facts about job-hunting in December.

‘Tis the season to be available and willing to be called in to help out. Many staffers book winter vacations during the holiday season, resulting in a greater need for temporary work.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year to network. With thoughts of the holidays floating in people’s head, many are in better than average moods and more generous with their time.

Hiring authorities with positions to fill don’t want to put their job searches on hold.  They prefer to start the new year with new hires in place.

It’s also true that it can be more difficult to schedule interviews with decision-makers in the latter half of December.  That said, throughout the years, recruiters at The Bagg Group have sent candidates for interviews with the best companies in the GTA on December 24 and December 31. 

The bottom line?  Looking for a job is like running your own business.  And every business has to think competitively.  Many of your competitors for jobs will likely take most of December off.   And that’s why you shouldn’t.

Instead, take your cues from The Bagg Group recruiters who successfully help people find positions 12 months of the year:   Go ahead and decorate your work space with a poinsettia, and keep candy canes within reach, but don’t stop working toward your goal until office doors shut for the holidays.

Recently, The Bagg Group won research firm Inavero’s 2010 Best of Staffing award, presented in partnership with CareerBuilder. This is the nation’s only award that recognizes exceptional service to job candidates. 

The Bagg Group went through a rigorous candidate survey to earn the award.  The candidates gave us a satisfaction score that is double the national staffing industry’s benchmark.  More than 70 percent of survey respondents rated The Bagg Group recruiters a 9 or 10 out of 10.

What’s behind their rave review?  We believe it is the art of listening.  We listen when candidates talk about their goals, interests and values. And we respect what is important to them.  As a result, we are unparalleled in making the right fit between job-seekers and organizations. 

We are thrilled to get this vote of confidence from our candidates.  But we share the honour with our clients across the GTA. 

It is thanks to our clients that we serve our candidates well. Hiring authorities willingly engage with The Bagg Group recruiters in conversations about their organization’s challenges, needs, and culture.  And these exchanges are invaluable for giving us the insight we need to compile the best possible shortlist for our clients.

The Bagg Group recruiters are known in the industry for their approach as partners of hiring authorities, committed to finding the perfect staffing solution.  However, we couldn’t excel in our role if our clients weren’t willing to take the time to talk with us. 

Our clients give us much to listen to, and that makes all the difference. All recruiters at The Bagg Group take to heart the advice of one of the best all-time interviewers, Larry King, who said, “I remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I’m going to learn, I must do it by listening.”

New study shows superstitions can help reduce performance anxiety

Do you avoid crossing the path of a black cat to avoid bad luck? Or pick up a penny on the street for good luck?  Some superstitions we never outgrow, and the surprising news is that for job-hunters, that can be a good thing.

Do you take a particular pen to every interview, or perhaps you make sure to wear a favorite watch or a certain pair of socks? You’re not alone.  A lot of us have superstitions, odd irrational beliefs and habits, that we think can help our game. And according to new research, they can. 

Athletes will tell you they don’t need to science to confirm that superstitions are important.  Michael Jordan didn’t credit talent alone for making him the greatest basketball player ever.  He believed he owed a lot to the shorts that he wore when he played for his North Carolina college team. He wore those same shorts under every uniform for every game. 

Tiger Woods has said he needs to wear red during the final round of a golf tournament to play well. And Patrick Roy, hailed as the best goalie to ever play in the National Hockey League, had a pre-game ritual that he considered sacred.  He would skate out to the blue line, stare at the net and imagine it shrinking. 

These little quirks and beliefs go along way to reducing performance anxiety, says Stuart A.Vyse, psychologist and author of Believing in Magic. 

It doesn’t matter whether you want to win a game, or win a job, we all feel we could use luck on our side.  And small superstitions give us a sense that we are doing something to help things go our way.  That belief doesn’t just reduce our anxiety, it may actually improve our performance, according to a new study at the University of Cologne, in Germany.

Research found that people who were told good-luck statements such as “break a leg” or “fingers crossed” or given a ‘lucky’ charm before a test, performed better.  Writing about the study in the prestigious journal Psychological Science, researchers concluded, “Activating a superstition boosts participants’ confidence in mastering upcoming tasks, which in turn improves performance.”

So whether you are interviewing for a full-time job, contract work, or part-time placement, if you believe wearing special socks will make you feel more confident, be sure to wear them.  After successfully placing hundreds of people over the years, at The Bagg Group we know that it’s important for you to feel good about yourself to make a good impression. And that’s not a superstition, that’s a fact…and here’s another one, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for you.

We recently received a stellar performance review by candidates looking for full-time positions, contract work and temporary placements.  The Bagg Group earned the Inavero 2010 Best of Staffing Award for excellent service to candidates.  The award is presented in partnership with CareerBuilder. 

The award is based on a rigorous survey of candidates. Participants had a lot to say about The Bagg Group recruiters, and all of it was good.

Respondents didn’t just rate The Bagg Group high, they gave the agency a score that is double the national staffing industry’s benchmark for candidate satisfaction, according to the research firm Inavero. 

That means that more than 70% of survey respondents gave The Bagg Group recruiters a 9 or 10 out of 10.

Want to know what makes people champion a staffing agency?  Here are some key qualities for every candidate to consider when working with a staffing agency. 

Experience.   A successful job placement isn’t a question of luck. A recruiter needs to know how to match candidates with clients and opportunities.  It starts with paying close attention to a candidate’s interests, skills, and strengths.

Contacts:  For example, The Bagg Group has been a mainstay of the GTA staffing business for 40 years, and our clients know they can count on us to understand their needs and deliver the right candidates. That’s why we have relationships with the best places to work in the GTA and beyond. 

Trust:   You can also call it integrity.  It is critical that your staffing agency respects issues of confidentiality and negotiates in your best interests. 

Wisdom:   From notes on your resume to tips for interviewing to recommendations on workplace practices, look for a recruiter who is an expert in what you need to succeed. 

All of our recruiters are thrilled that The Bagg Group is the recipient of the 2010 Best Staffing Award.  It’s high praise indeed from our candidates, and it means the world to us.

If you are thinking about quitting your current job for full-time placement, contract work, or temporary work, remember that how you quit a job matters.

It’s not unusual to come to a crossroad at work and decide you need to make a change. There are no stats on how many times people switch jobs in the course of a career.  However, in 2008 a survey by the American Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that people born between 1957 and 1964 held an average of 10 jobs between the ages of 18 and 42.  Twenty-three percent held 15 jobs or more.  Not surprisingly, people switched job more frequently in their late teens and early twenties. 

We know there a lot of reasons for leaving a job – better opportunity, better location, money, etc.  Sometimes there are personality conflicts or demands that can’t be managed and leave you frustrated. Regardless of the reason for leaving, it’s important for your career to leave on good terms.

There are those who believe quitting is their chance to voice their dissatisfaction, in no uncertain terms. A word of caution from The Bagg Group: with more than 40 years of experience in placing candidates with the top organizations across the GTA, we know the value of a good reference. And you don’t get a good reference when you storm out the door.

Instead, the pay-back for exiting with professionalism is worth keeping your feelings under wrap. You don’t know where the people you work with today will show up tomorrow. A half-hour rant is not going to help your job success in the short or long term. But having former colleagues and bosses who will always take your call can make a difference.

That’s why recruiters at The Bagg Group offer these tips leaving a job on a high note:

• Give at least two weeks notice, or more if possible, especially if it’s going to be difficult to fill your position. 
• Make a point of letting your boss know that you’ll do whatever you can to make your departure as easy on others as possible.
• Stay objective about your job when talking to others about why you are leaving. A job that didn’t work for you could work for someone else who has a different interest, goal, or temperament.  
• In an exit interview, share the positives about the organization, not just the negatives. Remember, the person you are talking to is staying with the company and will feel defensive if you do nothing but criticize. 
• Talk about lessons learned, what worked for you and, if applicable, where you believe there is room for improvement.  Managers across the GTA say that when an employee sounds excessively bitter and resentful, they can’t help but wonder if the employee wasn’t the actual problem. On the other hand, they say they have great respect for those who offer professional suggestions for improvements, rather than angrily complain. 

At The Bagg Group, we know that seeking a full-time placement, contract work or temporary employment takes energy. 

Until you find the placement that’s right for you, it can sometimes feel as if you’re swimming against the tide.  Having placed people with top organizations in the GTA for decades, recruiters at The Bagg Group know that even the most positive candidates have to work to stay motivated during their job search at times.

If your get-up-and-go has gone, follow theses six tips to get your energy back.

Set small goals:  Lofty goals can leave you feeling disappointed, rather than energized.  Don’t put pressure on yourself to land a fantastic job within a short period of time.   Instead, write an specific, achievable, list of tasks for each day that are within your ability to accomplish.  

At day’s end, focus on the goals you’ve achieved, not those you have yet to reach:  When you complete a task, give yourself a high five.  It’s not arrogant or conceited to feel good about yourself, it’s a key strategy that is practiced by all successful job-seekers.  Celebrating small wins is a way to stay confident and positive — two qualities which are valued by hiring managers at organizations throughout the GTA.

Forget perfection, strive for progress:  If you didn’t catch a typo on a covering letter until it’s too late, if  you missed an opportunity, or messed up on an interview, immediately replace the words “if only”  with “next time”.  You can never go back in time but fortunately, you can always move forward, a little bit wiser.

Take a break:  When you truly feel your battery is on empty, take time out to do whatever it is you love to do to recharge.  

Work where other people are working:  If you have a laptop, consider working at a friend’s house  or office. If that’s not possible, head to a coffee shop with your phone and your computer. Simply being around others who are working can motivate you keep  focused on your tasks.  What’s more, looking for a job can be lonely business.  For the price of a coffee, you can feel less alone during the day. 

Choose a winning team:  Surround yourself with positive people who persevere with their own goals and remind you to persevere with yours.

Stay motivated and energetic, and you can be sure people will respond to your enthusiasm and be that much more interested in helping you meet your goals.

To reach your goal takes commitment and smart strategizing. That’s something every CEO and entrepreneur knows. 

And the most successful job-hunters know that too. That’s confirmed by The Bagg Group which has helped hundreds of candidates achieve their career goals.

Whether your goal is to land a full-time position, contract work, or a temporary placement, you need to make an impact in a competitive world.  You have to be the one to capture the interest and trust of a hiring authority. 

Those who have successfully built their own companies have advice on how to do that.  They know how inspire people to want their expertise and service.  Here are four key tips they offer to give a boost to job-seekers.

Listen to people’s complaints.  Entrepreneurs do it all the time – they need to know what people are complaining about, and they need to figure out how they can offer a better solution than anyone else.  

Follow in their footsteps. Listen carefully to friends and former colleagues when they talk about workplace complaints and issues.  What do your friends’ stories tell you about what organizations want, need, or expect from employees?

Reflecting on this question before an interview can help you stand out from the crowd.  You will be better prepared to talk about how you can meet expectations and needs.

Think creatively. CEOs say that they always ask themselves, “What can we  do differently and better?”  It’s a great question to ask about your job search.  Often, companies hold brainstorming sessions to answer their  – you can do that too. 

Two, or more, heads can be better than one.  Get together with former colleagues and friends and brainstorm ways you can create a bigger network of contacts or improve your resume.  You may be surprised at what you come up with.

Don’t give in to failure. CEOs who have started their own companies have all had their fair share of setbacks and failures along the way.  But they say, they couldn’t afford to let disappointment get them down.  They insist if they had stopped believing in themselves, they would never have reached their goal. Those who have overcome rejection say there are only two things you can do when it happens to you – be resilient and keep going.  This is what has made the careers of company presidents, and it can make your career too.

Upgrade and improve. Those who own their own company say that being complacent is a threat to their business. Instead, you need to continually think about what you can upgrade and improve. Job-seekers are no different, they need to continually update and improve their resumes, covering letters, phone pitches.

There’s no magic bullet, but in working with hiring authorities at the best companies in the GTA, The Bagg Group recruiters know that these strategies can make all the difference.

More entrepreneur strategies can be found in the book, The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success. 

Our recruiters at The Bagg Group often tell candidates that looking for a job is like running your own company. Whether you are seeking a full-time position, contract work, or a temporary placement, you need to promote and sell your expertise – just like anyone who owns their own business.

That’s why the tactics which entrepreneurs use to get ahead in the marketplace are useful for job-seekers in the GTA.  With that in mind, staffing experts at The Bagg Group offer these four tips, inspired by the book The Risk Takers: 16 Women and Men Share Their Entrepreneurial Strategies for Success.

1.  Don’t overlook the bonus skill:  Successful entrepreneurs say it’s a good idea to service even small, special or niche markets that others overlook or ignore. In the same way, it’s a good idea for job-seekers to develop extra skills, in their spare time, that others in the field may not worry about acquiring. 

These additional skills —  which may range from learning a second language to a new software program — may not be essential for your work. They may only be of use in certain specific situations. But bonus skills can impress interviewers and give you a competitive edge over other candidates.

2.  Keep your eyes and ears open: Top entrepreneurs say they always stay up-to-date on trends so they can meet new needs and interests.  When in the business of job-seeking, stay up-to-date on trends in your area of work so hiring managers will know you’re in step with ongoing developments in your field.  

3. The best time to do anything is now. Those who operate companies insist there is no perfect time to launch a new idea. Instead, they say, the right time to start anything is ‘now.’  Similarly, don’t wait to start your job search until the economy picks up, the holidays are over, or you get the new Ipad.  Begin it today.

4.  Avoid pessimists. People who have built thriving businesses from scratch say they had to ignore those who insisted their plans would never work.  As a job-hunter, you too will want to seek people who encourage and help you, and avoid those who doubt you.  When you do come face-to-face with a pessimist, remind them that you’ve had a job before, and you will have one again.  Then, change the subject to the weather.

In the next blog, we’ll bring you four more strategies to help you succeed in your business of finding a job.