Prior to having you review my resume, I had received feedback from interviews that I had more knowledge than my resume revealed. Once we worked through the update, I was offered a great position! I want to thank you and believe it really helped me out!
Leadership is defined “as the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group.”[1] Leadership is not something that you are born with; it’s something that you can learn to be. Over time, I have experienced many types of leaders. Some were loud and in your face, while others were passive and persuasive. Many methods of being a leader can be effective, but in order to be an effective leader you should work toward traits that all leaders must have in order to succeed.
Be a problem solver
Being a problem solver involves a lot more than you might think. It’s not just about identifying a problem but finding a solution. Someone with keen skills at solving problems will learn and investigate as much as they can about the problem. These investigations lead to solutions that solve the root of the problem. The reason a problem solver is successful is that they solve problems and not just cover them up or put band aids on them.
Think Big Picture
Being able to see the big picture is being able to determine how all of the smaller pieces and details fit into the ultimate goal. This is important because it helps a person delegate time and assets appropriately, create a strategic plan, and prioritize. As a leader works through the details of a project or goal; they have to be able to take a step back and confirm that what they are doing matches the long term or overall strategic objectives. This does not diminish the importance of details but it does make sure that all the details are in line with the overall effort.
Be a proactive leader not a reactive leader
Proactive leaders inspire people to follow. They work with the broad company focus in mind and reach goals with greater ease. Reactive leaders tend to work frantically while trying to achieve objectives. Anticipation is the key to being a successful proactive leader. Anticipation allows for a leader to be better prepared for when problems or changes occur. This creates a more positive workplace and increases positive results.
Make tough decisions
Decisions made by leaders may affect the wellbeing of a company and its employees. Not all decisions need to be the correct decision, but they need to be backed up with the goals of the company in mind. Having the ability to pull the trigger is what makes a leader. Think back to a bad boss in your past. We have all had them. They are indecisive and work in fear instead of striving for goals and objectives. A leader isn’t afraid, which is the key to being successful.
Share your vision
A leader that shares their vision is the key to success. Most people and team members want to succeed. Therefore, if the vision is communicated and a plan is place, members will be motivated. Involving and educating employees will help them understand how decisions are made.
The definition of a call center is a centralized office used for the purpose of receiving or sending a large volume of requests by telephone. An inbound call center is dedicated to administer incoming product support or information inquiries from consumers. Outbound call centers are typically operated for telemarketing, solicitation of charitable or political donations and debt collection.[1]
Many people view call centers as a negative place to work. Yes, it’s true sometimes the work can be a little repetitive. However, there are many reasons why a call center can be a great career choice.
Good Pay-
The average pay rate for a call center depends on the position to a certain extent. To generalize according to Salary.com, the pay rate for an entry level employee is roughly $30,000/yr. As a person works their way up the potential is to make much more. Becoming a supervisor or higher tiered employee can lead to $50,000 or even $60,000 per/yr.
Benefits-
Not all call centers, but most, offer a great deal of employee benefits. This includes healthcare, dental, and vision plans. In addition, they often include a retirement program of some sort. Many companies not in customer service cannot provide these types of benefits because of the high cost.
Rapid Advancement Opportunities-
Whether its on sales side, inbound, outbound, IT, or any other various roles in call centers, employees have a great opportunity to prove themselves. Most call centers also like to promote from within. So, after a person proves themselves they can move up quickly. Because call centers contain many departments, they also can provide opportunities in other expertise areas. Some companies will even provide extra training in these areas. Putting forth great effort with one of these companies will yield great reward.
Ease of being able to move-
An often overlooked benefit is the ease of being able to transfer to another location. A person might want to move to another city for various reasons. Many call centers have locations all over. This would allow for the employee to seamlessly transfer. It could also help provide more opportunity. Some of these locations may have other needs or have more advancement potential.
Bolder Staffing, Inc (BSI) and Bolder Professional Placements (BP2) care deeply about employees. It is the goal of the company to provide the best employee’s when and where they are needed. Recently, we had the pleasure of hearing from one of our employee’s. In the below video Emily talks about her experience with BSI & BP2:
The Colorado based staffing and recruiting firm Bolder Staffing, Inc. (BSI) and Bolder Professional Placements (BP2) announced May 22, 2012 that it has been named to the Boulder County Business Report (BCBR) Mercury 100 List for 2012. The Mercury 100 honors the 100 fastest growing companies in the North Denver and Boulder region.
“It’s an amazing feeling to know that BSI & BP2 services it’s clients and candidates in such a positive way that it spawns this kind of success.” BSI & BP2’s President and CEO, Jackie Osborn comments. “Every day our team puts forth its best effort to find the best employees.”
The Mercury 100 list for 2012, compiled by the Boulder County Business Report’s research department, ranks companies based on percent revenue growth from 2009 to 2011. It is divided into two categories: the top 50 companies reporting annual revenue less than $2 million, and the top 50 companies reporting annual revenue more than $2 million.
BSI & BP2 rank 22 on the Mercury 100 list
On May 24, 2012 the Plaza Hotel, 1850 Industrial Circle, Longmont, will be hosting the reception for nominees. The event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Cocktails and appetizers will be served. Cost is $39 per person. If you would like to register to attend click on the following link: Mercury 100 Registration.
ABOUT BSI & BP2: BSI & BP2 is a top rated staffing resource for clients and employees in the Boulder/Denver Metro area. Offering employees a wide range of job opportunities, and clients a qualified and talented pool of candidates. The BSI and BP2 staff has a depth of experience and a wide community network born from 30+ years of experience in national recruiting and Human Resources. They are proud members of both the American Staffing Association and Colorado Human Resources Association.
About Boulder County Business Report (BCBR): The Boulder County Business Report, an award-winning bi-weekly business newspaper, delivers quality business journalism through many forms of media. Known for comprehensive all-local business reporting in the biweekly business journal, BCBR also has embraced the Internet and e-mail, and frequently provides commentary and local news on radio programs and community TV.
Bolder Staffing & Bolder Professional Placements (BSI & BP2) Makes Inavero’s 2012 Best of Staffing™ Client List
BSI & BP2 announced April 20, 2012 that it has been named to Inavero’s 2012 Best of Staffing™ Client list. Best of Staffing, presented in partnership with CareerBuilder, is the nation’s only award that recognizes staffing firms that receive remarkable reviews from their clients. Fewer than 1% of North American staffing firms have been named to the 2012 Best of Staffing Client List.
“Being selected into a select group totaling less than 1% of North American Staffing firms is a great honor.” BSI & BP2’s President and CEO, Jackie Osborn explains. “We have an innovative and motivated team that uses best practices every day, which is evidenced by our Best of Staffing Award. We are quite proud of them.”
Staffing firms competing to make the Best of Staffing list underwent a rigorous client survey process followed by careful analysis of responses to determine satisfaction levels. BSI & BP2 received satisfaction ratings of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 57 percent of their clients, significantly higher than the industry’s average of 50 percent. Best of Staffing participants secured a place on the list by earning an average Net Promoter ScoreÒ that was nearly double the national staffing industry benchmark for client satisfaction.
“The staffing industry continues to play a key role in helping to revitalize the economy,” said Eric Gregg, Inavero’s Founder and CEO. “Staffing firms give growth-minded organizations a more flexible alternative to recruiting their own employees, letting both the employee and employer determines if the fit is right for a more permanent position. Both sides receive tremendous value in a flexible, yet meaningful working relationship, and as they engage with staffing firms to help achieve those goals, the service experience they have is very important to their success. The Best of Staffing lists are a resource for businesses and talent who are trying to find staffing firms that provide exceptional service.”
ABOUT BSI & BP2: BSI and BP2 is a top rated staffing resource for clients and employees in the Boulder/Denver Metro area. Offering employees a wide range of job opportunities, and clients a qualified and talented pool of candidates, the BSI and BP2 staff has a depth of experience and a wide community network born from 30+ years of experience in national recruiting and Human Resources. They are proud members of both the American Staffing Association and Colorado Human Resources Association.
About Inavero, Inc.
Inavero designs and manages satisfaction surveys for a global list of staffing and recruiting firms in more than 15 countries. Inavero’s proprietary technology platform gathers and reports staffing firm client and talent satisfaction information through online surveys. Inavero’s team analyzes satisfaction feedback from more than 500,000 staffing firm clients and talent each year, and serves at the American Staffing Association’s exclusive research partner.
For more information contact Inavero at (800) 921-2640 or email bestofstaffing@inavero.com. www.inavero.com | www.bestofstaffing.com.
Net Promoter, Net Promoter Score, and NPS are trademarks of Satmetrix Systems, Inc., Bain & Company, Inc., and Fred Reichheld
The job market has been improving in Denver and across the nation. In Colorado, the unemployment rate has been declining from a high of 9.3% in February 2011 to 8% in November 2011. This brings promise and an optimistic outlook as we move into 2012. So, how can you be more marketable to employers in the New Year? Here are my five 2012 New Year’s resolutions for job seekers:
1. Focus Your Job Search
Start with writing job types that fit your qualifications. Many candidates partake in what I call the “Shot Gun” method. This means applying to as many positions as possible whether you are qualified or not. The theory is if you send out enough resumes eventually one will hit its target. As you can guess the odds are against you when using this method. The unemployment rate is still unfavorable so employers can be selective. This means that your skills need to match the requirements or it will be extremely unlikely you will get an offer.
2. Add More Tools to Your Toolbox
After you focus your job search you might discover that you don’t have certain skills that you need for the career you want. If a position requires a specific skill that you don’t have, research how to gain that knowledge. There are many inexpensive and free websites that offer skill training certifications. A good place to start is your local workforce center.
Join a committee or volunteer for a charity. This not only helps you make great connections, but looks fantastic on your resume. Imagine if a candidate pool is narrowed down to you and one other candidate and you are able to comment on your leadership committee involvement? If your competitor doesn’t have something comparable, it may be what puts you over the top.
4. Make New Connections
This is probably the most time consuming resolution but could also be the most important. As the saying goes, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Get involved with groups from Meetup.com, local Chamber of Commerce chapters, or any other networking organization.
If you haven’t created a LinkedIn profile, DO IT! Not only is this a great place to network, it is also becoming a primary source for job postings and recruiting. Other social media platforms such as Twitter, Google+, and Facebook are also becoming useful tools. Twitter gives you timely information about new job postings and news. Google+ is still being developed but already has many unique features that could aid your search. Monster.com has released a professional networking application for Facebook called BeKnown.
A question that we have been hearing on a regular basis is “Where do I get the technical skills I need to compete in today’s job market?” The obvious and expensive answer is college. However, there are many ways to gain valuable skills that cost much less and may even be free.
Create a plan!
So many people enter the job market without a plan. Before you send out one resume you need to think about the positions that you are applying for and what they will require. If you are in sales you may need to be versed in CRM databases. If you’re a developer you may need to know languages such as JAVA or Ruby on Rails. To do the regular tasks of the day in a wide variety of administrative work you need to know Microsoft Suite and other various programs. Start by researching the job descriptions. You can dig even deeper by participating in blogs that focus on these types of careers. After you know what skills employers are looking for you can start looking into how to acquire these skills.
Research where to find them!
Now that you have narrowed your focus decide how and where to gain the knowledge. There are certifications available that cost money. Some may be as little as $50 while others can be in the thousands. In any medium sized city there is a community college that may have some inexpensive classes. If spending extra money is not an option, there are some other great resources available to get you started. Workforce Centers are extremely useful. They provide many classes in a variety of areas and in most cases at no charge. If you don’t see what you’re looking for there, look into some groups on www.LinkedIn.com and www.MeetUp.com. These sites often have groups organized to give a seminar series in particular areas.
Stay in the KNOW!
After you gain skills you need to stay ahead of the curve on technology and program changes. Continue improving your knowledge even after you have that new career. What is used widely today may be obsolete tomorrow. A great website to keep you updated on trends is www.Mashable.com.
There are countless types of computer systems and programs, so you need to narrow your focus based on the job you ideally want. Do your research and above all get motivated to gain these skills by getting involved in classes or seminars. The more knowledge you gain the more marketable you will be.
There are many types of staffing organizations that exist and can assist you in your job search. Whether you sign up with a temporary placement agency, recruiting firm or executive search firm any of these groups can help expand your network. The following list provides information of what you should be doing to increase your chances of getting placed.
Do:
Understand that agencies are employer paid
You are the commodity that agencies “sell” to make their money. All agencies are employer paid and their job is to find the ideal match for their client’s open positions. If you are the right fit for a particular position, then they will do everything in their power to make you look like the ideal candidate for their client. If you are not the right fit, they will likely add your resume to their database for future searches.
Check in on a regular basis
While an agency may have your resume in their database, mark your calendar to follow up on a regular basis. Candidates who are front of mind are more likely to be contacted when opportunities come available. If you’re working with a temp agency it may be appropriate to email or call your representative weekly, with technical or executive recruiting firms once a month may be more appropriate. Your representative should guide you on how their firm works.
Sign up with more than one agency
Because agencies are employer paid, you never know which agencies have agreements with which companies. If there are specific companies that you want to work for ask the agency if they staff for those organizations. The more agencies you sign up with, the more your chances increase in getting contacted.
Consider contracting or temp to hire
If you’re not currently working, consider temping or contracting. Not only does this put money in your pocket, but it allows you the chance to see inside companies and learn more about their culture. Getting out of the house and working keeps your skills current, grows new skills and allows you to continually be meeting people in the working world who can help you network for the right opportunity.
Be Honest
Recruitment agencies are your staffing partner, and the more you can building a trusting relationship with your contact, the better job they can do finding you the right opportunity. If a position they’re describing does not sound like a fit, explain so, and then share what would be a good opportunity for you. Keep them abreast of what you’re doing on your own with your job search so that they can better assist you.
This coming weekend is the 2nd largest 10K race in the United States, the Bolder Boulder. This will be my first time running this race, and I felt it necessary to write a little about why I am running, and how to give back to the community. Not only do such activities provide us with health benefits, but they can also provide community contributions.
It feels great working for a company that gives back to the community! Many companies have ways of giving back, but as an employee do you give back? BSI and BP2 are involved with a great charity called “There with Care.” As my employer, they have set the tone for our culture. They inspire us to give and come up with ideas to help. My way to give back is to run the Bolder Boulder and take sponsorship donations going toward There with Care.
This forum allows me the opportunity to express my desire to get as many people as possible involved with charities. Whether you have time to volunteer, or just give donations, it is important to help those less fortunate. Maybe you can eat out one less time and give that $5 to a charity. It’s so simple if you think about it, and you will feel better for doing it.
We would love to hear of some ways that you give back to your community.
If you are interested in sponsoring my running in the Bolder Boulder please go to my donation page. Make sure that you put ‘Justin Kraft’ in the tribute information section so that we can track what we raised.
