The Bagg Group Blog

At The Bagg Group, we have a seasonal message for all job-hunters in the GTA:  Don’t put your search on hold for the holidays.

Many people assume that hiring goes into a deep freeze between Christmas and New Year’s.  It doesn’t.  Some people may be away for a few days, but others are at their desk, using the holiday lull to get though their mail and tackle such tasks as reading resumes for a position to be filled.

At The Bagg Group, recruiters are busy year-round placing candidates in full-time positions, contract work, and temporary placements with the best companies across the GTA.  Our work continues even as the eggnog is poured. 

Here are three tips from our recruiters to help you make the most of your job search this holiday season.

 1.  Lend a hand:  There’s typically increased need for temporary work during the holiday season.  Consider the advantages:  It’s a way to earn money during an expensive time of year, and it’s an opportunity to get a foot in the door at a good company.  

 2. Network: People are in better than average moods during the holiday season so it’s the perfect time to network.  Whatever the occasion, be it a coffee or a party, be sure to keep your chat upbeat and positive.  A networking encounter is never the time to share worries and frustrations about your job hunt.  If you do, you could find yourself standing alone by the buffet table for most of the evening.  Instead, mention that you’re looking forward to an exciting year as you seek new opportunities in your field.

It’s always helpful to remember that the key to networking is to build relationships. This involves showing genuine interest in the other person.  A social encounter is not a job interview. Keep the focus on the person, not on their business card and what they can do for you. And try to remember a few details of the conversation to refer to later in a possible email to the contact you made.

3. Look for volunteer opportunities:  There is always a call for volunteers during this time of year.  We know from more than 40 years of experience in successfully placing candidates that volunteering is great for the spirit. And when candidates feel good about themselves, they do better in interviews. Another benefit of volunteering is that you expand your circle by meeting those who are helping out alongside you.  If you don’t know where to volunteer, check out www.volunteertoronto.ca which posts volunteer positions.

Those who look for work during holiday times are at a competitive advantage since many job hunters take an extended break from mid-December to mid-January.

That said, at The Bagg Group we know that looking for a job is a job in itself, and everyone needs some time off.  Be sure to give yourself a few days holiday to have fun and recharge.  That’s the gift of the season. 

From all of us at The Bagg Group, our very best wishes for the holidays.

‘Tis the season to shake up the workplace and have some fun.  And according to The Bagg Group’s more than 40 years of meeting with the best talent in GTA, the ROP (return on party) is well worth the effort.

Yet, this year’s survey by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) reveals nearly 39% of respondents will not be making merry.  At The Bagg Group, we believe that even in tough economies, the need to celebrate a seasonal event doesn’t change—although the way you do so might.

Having successfully placed more than 57,000 candidates in companies across the GTA over our history, we know that employees who play together are more inclined to stay together.

A party doesn’t have to cost much.  In fact, in the US, it has become trendy to have a bash on a shoestring.  According to a recent MNSBC network news report, this year’s fashionable corporate holiday parties are smaller, more casual, and with less alcohol than in the past.

It’s not the lavishness of the party that counts. It’s the thought. Holding a holiday party is a way to show appreciation for employees, and to encourage staff to meet each other as people, not job titles. A mixer between managers and all employees reinforces the fact that everyone at a company is pulling for the same team.  And the best way to get to know team-mates is to take some time-off to chat casually over eggnog about personal and family news, not just work-related tasks.

We practice what we preach. The Bagg Group is famous for its staff celebrations.  And HR professionals nation-wide agree that having fun at company get-togethers is time well spent. 

HR Voice reports that 81% of HR experts, polled by HRPA and the Canadian HR Reporter, believe a holiday celebration is important to the morale of an organization.

According to the MSNBC report, 68% of US companies polled this year say they’re holding a party for good cause. They made it through rough waters and now their focus is to motivate and retain the employees who survived with them.  

A holiday hoe-down, even if inexpensive and informal, is also a show of optimism.

While companies with recent layoffs want to show sensitivity, those which don’t even host frills-free gatherings must be careful that their decision doesn’t leave employees dispirited, and fretting about possibly darker times ahead.

Whether you’re planning a last-minute office party or wondering how to spice up your event when you don’t have a budget, here are three great tips:

If you can’t go company-wide, make it a departmental affair:  You don’t need an outside venue; many companies are now holding the holiday gathering on-site.

Santa is popular for a reason:  A Secret Santa gets people thinking about each other and is an automatic mood-lifter.  Some companies do theme-based Secret Santas, such as a “stress buster” or “home-made.”  It’s a good idea to set a $10 to $20 limit.

Our Team’s Got Talent:  Turn the party into a local talent show for a way for people to get to know and applaud each other. Your X Factor doesn’t have to intimidate, expand the ‘show-off’ categories to everything from singing to magic to baking to funny poems. 

There’s an energy that happens when people get together for no reason other than to have a nice time. That energy lasts even after the party’s over. 

Best wishes from all of us at The Bagg Group for a great celebration this holiday.

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.

Planning on taking a pass on marking the holidays with your team this year?  Thinking of just sending out emails and stopping there? Think again.  The staffing experts at The Bagg Group know that a celebration isn’t an indulgence, it’s an important employee retention strategy.

All work and no play doesn’t do much to lift employee morale or cement company loyalty. It may sound corny, but the team that has fun together, stays together. And t’s the season for a little levity.

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  In fact, in a recovering economy, laying on the champagne and caviar can irk those who suffered the impact of budget cuts throughout the year.

Only 6% of companies in the US who are holding celebrations say they will spend more than last year on the festivities, according to a survey by the consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. But more companies are getting into the spirit, with 68% of businesses planning on holding some sort of party, up from 62% in 2009.  Still, John Challenger, CEO of the consulting firm, estimates it will be a year or more before there’s a widespread return to the types of blow-outs held prior to the recession. 

The survey also found that 53% of respondents are holding their holiday party at the office, and 54% are keeping the guest list to employees only, no significant others allowed.  That’s a shame because an office party is a terrific occasion to welcome the families of employees and thank them for their support.

At The Bagg Group, we do something different. We go shopping.  The company closes for half-a-day so all of us can hit the Eaton Centre and play Santa.  With money raised by staff and matched by the company, we load up on gifts for the Adopt-A-Family program organized by the Toronto-based Scott Mission.

This is not only a tremendous opportunity to help families in need, it also doubles as a true gift for all of us at The Bagg Group.  Working together to help our adopted families have a wonderful Christmas is a team-building experience that lets us do what we love to do best – help make a difference.

 After 40 years of successfully placing candidates in full-time positions, temporary work, and contract work, The Bagg Group knows that the best companies make a point to leave Scrooge at the door in December.  From holding a pot-luck to a fund-raiser, there are an infinite number of affordable ways to mark the occasion, the only thing that matters is to bring the spirit of the occasion into the workplace.

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.

Tis the season to remind all your contacts of your name, say recruiters at The Bagg Group

It’s a great idea to send out holiday cards to people on your networking lists.  It’s not just about keeping a nice tradition going.  The holidays provide an excellent opportunity for job seekers to put themselves on the radar with those who are helpful contacts.

But whether you are seeking full time work, contract work or temporary work, use this occasion to build relationships, not to blatantly sell yourself and your skills.

Our expert recruiters at The Bagg Group have put together a list of etiquette tips for how to send seasonal greetings that impress.

Make it a Happy New Year:  You can’t go wrong with a New Year’s card as it is an occasion that is celebrated by everyone.  It’s a good idea to avoid sending cards with a religious message to mark a holiday unless you are certain that your contact celebrates the event.

If you miss the deadline for sending cards, you can still use the New Year as a good excuse for touching base.  In early to mid January, send an update email that opens with greetings for a happy new year.  Follow this with a short paragraph that details your latest activities.  If you don’t have any professional news, look to share an interesting piece of industry news that relates to your area of work. 

Splurge.  You don’t need to break the bank on cards, but don’t send the very lowest quality on the market.  You want to make a good impression, not a cheap one.  You can never go wrong with cards from Unicef or other charitable organizations.

Keep it classic, not cute:  Consider the greeting card as a marketing piece and keep it professional.   It’s not worth it to you to send a card that could risk being perceived as distasteful, even though you may find it hilarious.  Similarly, one person’s idea of cute is another’s idea of dumb.  

Write a message that is personal, but not pushy:  You need to do more than simply sign your name, but not too much more.  For instance, “Best wishes for a wonderful start to the new decade” or ” All the best for the year ahead” is enough for the occasion.  You may add, if it’s appropriate to your relationship, a line such as, “Looking forward to touching base in the New Year.”

Don’t send ecards to business contacts:  It’s one thing for corporations to send specially-designed emails to their clients, but it’s not ideal as a personal initiative. Unless you know the contact well, don’t send an ecard.  The recipient has to take the time to download the card and most people will not wish to do that so your efforts are wasted.  Even worse, your gesture could backfire as many who suffer from mail overload consider non-essential email simply annoying.  

Keeping your name out there makes a difference.  So make your new year’s resolution to stay top-of-mind.

Office holiday parties– are they an indulgence or a morale booster?  It’s a question I am asked frequently by clients.

At The Bagg Group, we know from years of interviewing A-level talent that candidates are seeking workplaces that not only provide professional opportunities, but also a congenial environment. And employees are far more likely to stick with a team, through thick and thin, that has fun together.

But this year, many companies are concerned that fun doesn’t fit into their budget. According to an October 2009 Reuters survey of 100 companies in the US, only 62% are planning to hold a holiday party, which is down from 77% last year.  Two years ago, as many as 90% of surveyed companies were partying the night away.

Certainly, times have changed, but it’s not best practice to take on the role of The Grinch this year. 

Many of The Bagg Group clients across the GTA have told our staffing solution experts that they are concerned it would appear uncaring to hold a seasonal blow-out in this era of wage freezes and cut-backs.  However, we know that now, more than ever, people need the opportunity to de-stress. 

And while it’s true that this is not the year for flashy extravagances, even small gestures at this time can go a long way to lifting spirits.

New research from Britain shows that human resource professionals there feel that despite the recession, the party must go on-albeit on the cheap.   Marketwire reports that at many British companies, employees are planning to bring their own bubbly to the office to make toasts. And rather than outsource catering and DJs, employees with talents are being recruited to provide food and entertainment.

A number of top employers in the GTA are doing likewise.  It doesn’t matter what you do, just consider doing something to mark the holidays, even if it’s simply a pot luck lunch. It’s a great occasion to mingle with all employees-and our recruiters know a friendly conversation, which is not about business for a change, can go a long way to reinforcing good feelings in the hallways. 

But remember, at an office party, friendly means neighborly, not intimate or indiscreet. The comedian Phyllis Diller once quipped, “What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.”  And as recruiters in the business for over 30 years, we’ve fielded calls from more than one candidate following a party blooper.

Whatever your holiday celebration proves to be, may it be a great reminder that the company of colleagues is worthy of a toast.

Cheers,

Geoff Bagg