Central Indiana Jobs

Social media has taken Indianapolis staffing companies, executive headhunters and most anyone in Central Indiana jobs by storm. Sites such as Facebook, Linkedin, You Tube and Twitter offer employers, employees and job seekers opportunities to network, advertise and promote themselves and has become one of the biggest hiring trends to advertise Central Indiana jobs and Indianapolis job openings. It allows job seekers to explore job opportunities in Indianapolis easier than ever before. While this is a huge benefit to reach a large audience very quickly, social media has created a number of employment and employment law issues. 
 

Issues around trade secrets, confidentiality, harassment, discrimination, job listings/OFCCP, background checks, and state laws that protect leisure-time activities have employers scrambling to create social media policies. 

Employers walk a fine line between banning social media and encouraging it to promote the company. Banning it creates resentment and invites violations. Encouraging it is not intended to encourage spending the majority of company time on these sites. That’s why companies are finding Social Media Policies vital to set guidelines in place.

When writing a policy, it is important to be very clear on the boundaries around social networking and to clearly spell out what to think about when engaging in social forums. Three great companies to model a company policy from are Kodak, Intel and IBM.

Employees also need to be aware of the risk of jeopardizing their careers when using social media. There are countless stories of employees being terminated for divulging confidential company information, non-productivity or for making disparaging comments about their employer.  Check out Top 10 Stupid Things That Will Ruin Social Media for Everyone at Your Company. My personal favorite is employees who update their Facebook status every 10 minutes while at work. Remember, social media is just that: MEDIA!

Developing appropriate and specific guidelines, and communicating them to ensure employees understand the rules, can help make cyberspace less stressful for everyone.

The season for companies to hire interns is quickly approaching. Current hiring trends show more Indianapolis job openings are being filled with interns than ever before due to the current economy . In addition, not only are students looking for internship opportunities, many unemployed Central Indiana job seekers are also seeking these as they are making career changes or looking to gain new experience.

Unpaid administrative, accounting finance and HR internships in Indianapolis have been a great opportunity for students who get academic credit in lieu of a paycheck. In this current Central Indiana job market, with the unemployment rate hovering near 10%, job-search sites like CareerBuilder and Monster.com are reporting increases in the number of postings for internships. More and more college graduates and even middle-aged professionals are willing to work for free in hopes that it will help them land a paying Central Indiana job.

The caution for Central Indiana employers is this:  volunteering at for-profit companies is, legally, not allowed. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has spelled out several criteria with the goal of ensuring that internships not only provide real training but also can't be used by companies to displace regular employees.

"It can be very tempting if you're laying off employees to bring in free help and call it an internship, but most career-services operations are fairly sophisticated in weeding those out."

The DOL regularly does outreach with colleges to help protect the rights of students. Because of the influx of older interns, many of whom graduated years ago, this is also on the DOL’s radar screen because the legal requirements aren't any different.

Central Indiana employers need to make sure they are legally compliant before bringing bringing in unpaid interns!

As Central Indiana companies are celebrating an economic rebound, it is vital for companies to plan for growth. This will affect companies not only in increased revenues but also in employee turnover as the Central Indiana job market grows.  If you are an employee exploring Indianapolis job openings, it is important to research Central Indiana jobs that offer the benefits that are important to you.

A recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey revealed that turnover will rise significantly once the job market improves. Human Resource and Management felt that the job market will improve within the next year, according to the latest Job Recovery Survey.

The most common hiring trends in recruiting and retention strategies are competitive salary, competitive vacation and holidays and tuition reimbursement. Recruiting the right employees for Central Indiana jobs and keeping the right employees are key. Select the right people in the first place through behavior-based testing and competency screening. The right person, in the right seat, on the right bus is the starting point. Indianapolis Staffing companies, such as That's Good HR, can play a valuable role in matching the right candidate with the right Central Indiana job!

Below are some common-sense recruiting and retention tips. These have been hard to find in companies over the last several years, as companies struggled to stay alive, but can result in a great return in happy and productive employees.

·         Offer an attractive, competitive, benefits package with components such as life insurance, disability insurance and flexible hours.

·         Provide opportunities for people to share their knowledge via training sessions, presentations, mentoring others and team assignments.

·         Demonstrate respect for employees at all times. Listen to them deeply; use their ideas; never ridicule or shame them.

·         Offer performance feedback and praise good efforts and results.

·         People want to enjoy their work. Make work fun. Engage and employ the special talents of each individual.

·         Involve employees in decisions that affect their jobs and the overall direction of the company whenever possible.

·         Recognize and celebrate success. Mark their passage as important goals are achieved.

·         Celebrate! Have a costume party every Halloween, have pitch-ins, celebrate company anniversaries.

·         Team together for good causes. Run a food collection drive every November. Pick a monthly charity to help.

·         Provide opportunities within the company for cross-training and career progression. People like to know that they have room for career movement.

·         Provide the opportunity for career and personal growth through training and education, challenging assignments and more.

·         Communicate goals, roles and responsibilities so people know what is expected and feel like part of the in-crowd.

If you are a Central Indiana employer, what are your top recruiting and retention strategies?

If you are an employee who wants to make a job change, what is important to you?

 Unemployment or Employment??????   

With the large number of people who have been downsized from Central Indiana jobs over the last 2 years, questions repeatedly come up about how unemployment works in regard to accepting short-term or part-time employment with Indianapolis Staffing companies.

To be eligible for unemployment, the state of Indiana requires you be unemployed through no fault of your own and that you are able, available and actively searching for work.

It's important to broaden your horizons in a still-tight job market and a great way to do this is to apply for part-time, temporary or temporary-to-hire positions with Indianapolis Staffing companies. When you apply with an Indianapolis Staffing company, you are applying with one company who may be able to market you to many Central Indiana jobs. It’s a great way to explore what opportunities are out there and what is a good fit for you while building skills and experience. Prospective employers view this as a positive.

Accepting these positions does not jeopardize unemployment benefits. If you accept a part-time position while claiming full-time unemployment benefits each week, you still receive the difference in pay weekly. If you accept full time-work that is temporary, your benefits simply begin again at the end of your assignment not to mention extending your benefit period.

There is valuable information located at the IN Department of Workforce Development’s website, including a claimant handbook.

• Interview travel expenses - many companies are not willing to pay for travel expenses.  If you want to be perceived as a viable candidate, don't ask for help.  If they offer, then it's okay to take them up on it.
• House/apartment hunting trips - if you get to the offer stage, it's realistic to expect to have to make at least one trip to determine your living situation in your new city.
• Moving expenses - packing materials, movers, storage, etc.  It all adds up and can be expensive. 

It does not matter if you work for an Indianapolis Staffing company, are in Accounting & Finance, are an Executive Recruiter, in management positions in Indianapolis or in an Administrative job in Indianapolis - we have all had to deal with job stress over the past year. In this difficult economy, you may find it harder than ever to cope with challenges in central Indiana jobs. Both the stress we take with us when we go to work and the stress that awaits us on the job are on the rise – and employers, managers, and workers are all feeling the pressure. While some stress is a normal part of life, excessive stress interferes with your productivity and reduces your physical and emotional health, so it’s important to find ways to keep it under control. Fortunately, there many things that you can do to manage and reduce stress at work.

• Create a balanced schedule. Analyze your schedule, responsibilities and daily tasks. All work and no play is a recipe for burnout. Try to find a balance between work and family life, social activities, exercise, daily responsibilities and downtime.
• Don’t over-commit yourself. Avoid scheduling things back-to-back or trying to fit too much into one day. All too often, we underestimate how long things will take. If you've got too much on your plate, distinguish between the "911 situations" and the "to get to" projects. Drop tasks that aren't truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.
• Try to leave earlier in the morning. Even 10-15 minutes can make the difference between frantically rushing to your desk and having time to ease into your day. Don’t add to your stress level by running late. Coming in early allows you some “quiet time” to tackle tasks before they tackle you.
• Plan regular breaks. Make sure to take short breaks throughout the day to sit back and clear your mind. Also try to get away from your desk for lunch. Stepping away from work to briefly relax and recharge will help you be more, not less, productive.
• Prioritize tasks. Make a list of tasks you have to do, and tackle them in order of importance. Do the high-priority items first. If you have something particularly unpleasant to do, get it over with early. The rest of your day will be more pleasant as a result.
• Break projects into small steps. If a large project seems overwhelming, make a step-by-step plan. Focus on one manageable step at a time, rather than taking on everything at once.
• Most Importantly, HAVE FUN! The most healthy and productive work environments are the ones where there is teamwork, positive interaction and a sense of humor over the quirks and stresses that inevitably occur.

If you are in a culture that invariably drags you down, it may be time to think about looking at Indianapolis job openings.  Indianapolis Staffing companies and Executive Recruiters are  great ways to explore opportunities and help guide you to find the right fit!

I've recently been spending a lot of time assisting individuals with re-vamping their resumes.  A big section of the resume that is commonly overlooked by job seekers is the Accomplishments section.  Many people think that you are either bragging about yourself in that section or just adding "fluff" to your resume.  However, being a recruiter that tries to market candidates for Indianapolis job openings, it is much easier for me to "sell" you for a position if you have a clear trail of accomplishments. 

The Indianapolis Business Journal posted an article at the end of last year appropriately titled "Leave a Trail of Accomplishments, It's Job Security You Can Carry With You."  The article has a lot of great content, but I was specifically drawn to the section of clearly outlining your accomplishments in your resume. 

I would recommend keeping a document that lists all of the accomplishments you have achieved in your career, including your volunteer activities.  That way when you are tailoring your resume for the Indianapolis job openings you are applying for, you can plug those in as appropriate.  As the article mentions, Indianapolis recruiters like myself are no longer just looking at who you worked for and for what length of time.  I want to know what you made, saved or achieved in your positions.  I want to know that you did more than just show up for your job everyday...you actually went in and had a "ripple effect" of sorts.

I definitely understand that it's easy to let the moment pass and forget to document your successes.  But your lack of attention to that documentation now, will just lead to frustration and extra work in the future.  Central Indiana jobs are going to those that have consistently been "movers and shakers" throughout their career.  If you can add "meat" to all of your positions on your resume, as well as have a dedicated accomplishments section, you are going to stand out among others that held similar roles that simply outline their duties on their resume. 

At That's Good HR we take time to work with each candidate in the Indianapolis job search to make sure they are putting their best foot forward.  I would urge you to check out our website to see the types of positions we typically work on and reach out to us if you feel we could assist you in your search. 

It is, once again, that highly anticipated season of American Idol! Watching the auditions, it occurred to me how much these tryouts are like interviewing for Central Indiana jobs!  Your Indianapolis job search is in a very tight job market with many, many candidates vying for the same position.

Here are my observations and how it relates to your Indianapolis job search:

·         Those that portrayed a positive attitude had a far greater advantage. When a negative attitude is perceived, you are instantly eliminating yourself. Case in point:  Andrew Fenlon. The guy who was clearly annoyed he had to wait for his audition. This instantly put off the judges and eliminated any shot of him going to Hollywood.

·         Those that appear genuine like Maddy Curtis have a definite advantage from the start. Maddy came across truly appreciative for the opportunity to audition. She projected a positive and confident attitude and the judges (even Simon!) instantly liked her..

·         The way you project yourself is everything! Case in point: those that auditioned in crazy outfits, not focused or had a sense of entitlement negatively swayed the judges’ opinion before they even auditioned.

 

You may be lucky enough to interview with a Paula but in this intensely competitive central Indiana job market, you will more likely be interviewing with a Simon 

The moral to my watching 3 hours of Reality TV in one week:   No matter if you are looking for HR jobs in Indianapolis, Accounting jobs in Indianapolis, six figure jobs or administrative jobs in Indianapolis and no matter how discouraged you are in your job search or irritated you might be with a prospective employer, never let this come through. Always convey a confident (but not cocky!), professional and enthusiastic attitude. You could be the most qualified candidate on paper but Indianapolis staffing companies and executive recruiters are also looking for employees who will not only be able to use their skills but also contribute to a positive and productive environment.

Hopefully, this helps you get your "golden ticket"

Technology has certainly made Central Indiana jobs easier… for the most part. Who among you can raise your hand with me for forwarding (so you thought) an email to someone with a smart comment only to realize you hit reply, not forward? That is NOT a lol moment!

Everyone from Indianapolis Staffing company employees to executive headhunters, people in six figure jobs, administrative, HR jobs in Indianapolis and people in management positions in Indianapolis have all had that sick feeling when you realize you sent something to the wrong person or worse: PEOPLE.  This can lead to embarrassing and sometimes serious consequences not to mention a load of damage control!

Here are some common Email mistakes. Any sound familiar?

• Sending confidential employee salary information to the whole company.
• Transmitting confidential client or employee information to the wrong or parties.
• Sending a racy picture to the whole office that was only meant for a few people.
• Sending a job offer to the wrong candidate.
• Sending a resume to an internal recipient rather than to its intended recipient at an external, prospective employer.
• Nasty comments and catty, gossipy emails about supervisors - sent directly to supervisors by mistake.
• Calling a co-worker an "idiot" and mistakenly copying the co-worker or worse: the entire company.
   

1. Give your full attention to your email response. This is one time that multi-tasking does not pay off.

2. Thoroughly scrutinize who you are sending information to, particularly if it is a distribution list.

3. Take special care with those you copy. Think twice before hitting “reply all” and only copy those that need to be in the know.

4. Beware of sending or replying to emails from a handheld device. Your view is limited so if possible, review on a laptop or desktop.

5. Don’t hit “send” when you’re emotional. Angry emails are never a good idea. Give yourself a moment to cool off before responding. You may find it better to speak in person.

6. Keep it professional. Think about how your email could be viewed by the receiving party. Emails are easily forwarded and some email messaging may be monitored. As a general rule, avoid saying anything that could be viewed as harassing, discriminatory or unprofessional.

• Last year at this time I was in transition mode in my career.  Strangely, I was in this mode by choice, not by force.  However, I had not anticiapted the bottom falling out of the economy and local hiring trends plummeting to an all time low soon thereafter.  During this transition time, I was able to stay connected with my network at IndySHRM through my volunteer efforts and therefore remain connected to Indianapolis HR jobs and Indianapolis staffing roles.  This proved to be invaluable, as my next career move came directly from this network. 

• When I began working on our chapter rebrand, I was a novice at marketing and websites and a virtual infant when it came to social media.  Through the networks with my committee members, I began to meet and learn from some of the best in the local market in these areas of expertise.  I was able to quickly increase my knowledge about our options, the tools available and how to best use them together.  I made some good friends in the Social media industry who to this day are always there when I need them to advise me on this ever changing concept.  I have since begun to apply my newfound knowledge to how we are communicating and branding ourselves here at That's Good HR and that alone has demonstrated terrific ROI.

• Project management expertise is a non-negotiable when you are embarking on an effort such as this one.  Another area where, while not a novice, I still had much to learn.  This undertaking required me to sharpen my planning skills, manage a large project closely and keep a number of stakeholders up to date on the progress and included in the process.  Another key skill that I have since applied directly to my role in the Government division here at That's Good HR and it too has paid off.

• There is nothing really so rewarding as the self satisfaction of a  job well done.  I know it is not really proper to pat one's self on the back in a volunteer role, but I just cannot help being very proud of what we accomplished with this project over the past year.  Being recognized for your efforts, being able to provide a service of value and simply having people say thank you is by far the biggest paycheck I could and did receive.  There is no price you can place on that so even without the first 3 bullets mentioned above, I would be extremely well paid if #4 was all there was.

As we approach flu season, the question looms large: "do I stay home" or "do I go in and get work done"?

Many Indianapolis Staffing companies and their employees are facing this question.

As this flu season is predicted to be bad, it is, first, important to take precautions to avoid sickness. These include frequent washing of your hands, wiping down your work area (including keyboard and phone) and any other frequently handled surfaces on a daily basis. This also includes coughing or sneezing into your elbow.

Secondly, if you do experience flu-like symptoms, please see your doctor immediately and notify your employer. To review specific information, go to http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/swineflu_you.htm

Indianapolis Companies should develop a plan to ensure sick employees stay home and that the workload is covered. Whether this is determining which employee covers specific tasks for a sick employee or whether a sick employee is set up to work from home.  


There are many types of Central Indiana Jobs that can generally be done from home such as some Management Positions, Executive Headhunters, HR jobs and Accounting Finance jobs while Administrative jobs usually need to be done at the company site.
It is important to determine the workload and employee roles before multiple employees are absent!  It may seem strange to dedicate time to plan for volume absences in the unknown future, but better safe than sorry.


 

This year That's Good HR became a member of the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana.  Earlier this week I had the opportunity to attend the DRTCI's monthly meeting where Dr. Melva Covington, Director of U.S. Health Outcomes for Endocrine and Women's Health, at Eli Lilly was the speaker and presented on "The Power of an Effective and Diverse Network."   

One of the most influential aspects of networking is self-promotion.  I think "self-promotion" sounds like a dirty word to most people.  After working in the staffing industry for five years (the past three of those years have been spent in as an Indianapolis Accounting and Finance Recruiter), I have realized that self-promotion is critical for success in almost any career.

The major misconception about self-promotion is that it is not related to how much you talk about yourself.  It's about establishing yourself as credible and understanding and playing up your strengths and accomplishments. 

Many of the Accounting and Finance professionals I meet who are engaged in an Indianapolis job search have a hard time understanding the difference.  I think many folks in more analytical and technical jobs have a more difficult time with self-promotion.  However, is it possible to land an six figure job without a little self-promotion along the way?

Recently, I have been spending a lot of my time with my candidates discussing and strategizing how to effectively communicate their strengths and accomplishments when looking for job opportunities Indianapolis.  The first steps in self-promotion to ensure a successful job search area:
 

• Make your resume as accomplishment focused as possible.  What have you made, saved, or achieved in your current and previous positions?
•  Be prepared to discuss these accomplishments once you get the interview and how they pertain to the specific position.

• Network - Mr Blattman has applied for 600 jobs online.  I talk to many candidates everyday who literally sit at home and apply for jobs on Monster, Careerbuilder and corporate recruiting websites all day.  While these sites can be great to find out who is hiring and hiring trends, focusing your search only on these job postings if very limiting.  Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job.  Re-connect with former colleagues.  Attend networking lunches.  
• Have Confidence - Even if you have taken an emotional beating during the course of a job search, don't let potential employers know it.  Mr Blattman describes telling an interviewer that he would take any job.  While that may be the case, who wants to hire someone who is desperate or has no self-confidence?  Not to sound harsh, but think about it from the employer's perspective.
• Consider contract work - While a permanent position is ideal for many, consider a contract or temporary position.  It can be a great way to get back into the work force and keep your skills sharp.  That's Good HR  has a temporary services division and works with many job seekers who are in between positions. 

If you are anything like me and my family the Holidays didn’t start on Christmas Eve and end sometime around 1/1/09 after a day full of football. All over Indianapolis “The Holidays” have extended and start as soon as December arrives and mine officially ended last weekend with one final impromptu Christmas gathering and opening of the last few straggling gifts. What a great time of year to see all of your family and relax…right?     Well...along with those visits and relaxation comes all of the fabulous holiday food! So what happens when you decided to take a break over the month and stop your exercise plan and increase your mashed potato intake??   

Bad News:
I think you know the answer.  Tighter jeans, you suck in the tummy a bit and say, "I wish I would get back on schedule."

Good News:
It can all go back to normal once you get back into the gym and find your way reluctantly back to the treadmill.  AND once you do that it is easier to do it twice and three times, etc.

Moral: Managing your career is a direct correlation and no matter the time of year you cannot stop exercising your network and career.

Just as your body cannot stay in top form if you exercise every other month. Your career will never reach its top form if you choose to consciously manage it only when you are actively seeking a new position. It is a never ending effort:

1.  Read anything you can get your hands on as it relates to your    business space.
2. Attend as many local events and seminars as you can stand!
3. Find an active local professional group and volunteer your time. In my case, Central Indiana professionals in the Human Resources community attend or belong to the Human Resources Aassociation of Central Indiana. www.hraci.com
4. When someone is referred to you for help, respond immediately. All referrals are a direct reflects on your network and your habits.
5. It’s your career, no one else is going to manage it for you!

Regardless of any economic situation someone is always hiring...even for great central Indiana jobs.  As a matter of fact I think everyone in the world could think of the same exact company that needs people this time of year - North Pole, Inc. Mr. Clauss, CEO.  
He always has a global demand for his products and a need for great talent to help him meet his demand.  Now, we might not all be in a personal situation to pick up and relocate to the North Pole and let's face it our rocking horse building skills have probably gone by the way side years ago.  Despite us not being able to work for Santa, there are a few things we all DO know:

• There are companies in Indianapolis that are always hiring.
• You may not know who they are.
• If you do, chances are so does the rest of Central Indiana.

So...there are a few things you can do to increase the odds of either you finding these companies or the companies finding you.

1. CALL ME, my company works exclusively with local companies using us to help fight for them in the war for talent.
2.  Unless you are a master networker and six degrees from everyone in your profession like Kevin Bacon...read this book.
3. Take some time and watch this presentation.  Jim Stroud has spent years as a corporate recruiter, desparate job searcher himself, and general researcher about the art of finding a job.
4.  CALL That's Good HR!!

However you hunt for your next position make sure you do it ethically and with passion and I hope you find a position that inspires you!  Happy Hunting!